| CPC F25C 1/18 (2013.01) [F25C 2300/00 (2013.01); F25C 2600/02 (2013.01); F25C 2700/12 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |
|
1. An ice maker for a refrigeration appliance, the ice maker comprising:
an ice maker frame;
an ice tray housed within the ice maker frame and configured to form ice pieces therein;
an air handler disposed adjacent the ice maker frame;
an ice maker fan disposed within the air handler and configured to direct cooled airflow out of the air handler and into the ice maker frame;
a controller configured to operatively control the ice maker during an ice making cycle; a user interface, and
a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the ice tray,
wherein the ice maker is operable in a first mode and a second mode, wherein when the ice maker is operated in the first mode, the ice maker fan remains operational during an entirety of the ice making cycle and wherein when the ice maker is operated in the second mode, the ice maker is configured to produce clear ice pieces by cycling the ice maker fan on and off during predetermined time intervals,
wherein the ice-making cycle of the first mode is completed during a shorter time period than the ice-making cycle of the second mode,
wherein the user interface enables selection between the first mode and the second mode,
wherein the cycling of the ice maker fan on and off during the predetermined time intervals of the second mode is dependent on a rate of change of the sensed temperature of the ice tray, and
wherein the time the ice maker fan is cycled on during the predetermined time intervals of the second mode is reduced when a phase change is determined based on the sensed rate of change.
|
|
6. A method of controlling an ice maker to produce clear ice pieces, the ice maker including an ice tray, an ice maker fan configured to direct cooled airflow about the ice tray, and a controller configured to operatively control the ice maker in a first mode or a second mode during an ice making cycle whereby ice is manufactured in each of the first and second modes, wherein the ice making cycle of the first mode is completed during a shorter time period than the ice making cycle of the second mode, wherein the ice making cycle includes a filling phase, a freezing phase, and a harvesting phase, the method comprising the steps of:
selecting, via a user interface, one of the first mode or the second mode;
initiating the filling phase such that water enters the ice tray;
thereafter initiating the freezing phase such that the water in the ice tray undergoes a phase change and transitions into frozen ice pieces;
sensing a temperature of the ice tray;
when the first mode is selected, operating the ice maker fan at a constant operational speed during an entirety of the ice making cycle;
when the second mode is selected, cycling the ice maker fan between a first speed and a second speed during predetermined time intervals, during the freezing phase, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed, wherein the cycling of the ice maker fan between the first speed and the second speed in the second mode is dependent on a rate of change of the sensed temperature of the ice tray;
wherein the time the ice maker fan is operated at the first speed during the predetermined time intervals of the second mode is reduced when a phase change is determined based on the sensed rate of change; and
thereafter initiating the harvesting phase such that said frozen ice pieces are disengaged from the ice tray.
|