RU2586919C2 - Method and device for billet ice - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: manufacturing technology.

SUBSTANCE: ice generator has a cooling device, mold which forms the first volume for ice cube, wherein the mold comprises bottom surface with inner perimeter and side surfaces. Each side surface has inner perimeter, top edge and bottom edge. Upper edge of each side surface can be longer than the lower edge. Each side surface can pass inside from the top edge to lower edge. Mold can contain a three-dimensional shape in the first volume, whereupon three-dimensional mold contains the second volume. Second volume can be formed by top outer perimeter, lower outer perimeter and, at least, 3D mold edge. Edge can pass upward and narrow between the lower outer perimeter and upper outer perimeter. Mold can also form a third volume between the first and second volumes. Mold is configured to receive water in the third volume.

EFFECT: use of this group of inventions enables fast production of ice.

15 cl, 110 dwg

Description

This application is not provisional and claims priority on provisional application US No. 61/588954, filed January 20, 2012 and entitled "Method and device for ice storage", and is not a provisional application No. 13/618799, filed September 14, 2012 and entitled "Method and device for ice storage", the full descriptions of which are included here as reference material in their entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This description generally relates to a method and apparatus for producing ice for ice making, in which ice can be used in a variety of applications, including beverage dispensers, for example, for cafeterias, restaurants (including fast food restaurants), theaters, convenience stores, gas stations and other entertainment venues and / or other food outlets using a device with a reduced size and with a reduction in the time of ice freezing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ice makers described according to the prior art usually form transparent crystalline ice, freezing water that flows over a cooled surface.

Existing ice makers have several drawbacks. For example, they form ice cubes relatively slowly, which leads to low rates of ice production for a given number of cells for ice formation. For example, conventional ice makers typically have ice production cycles of approximately 10-15 minutes. To ensure adequate ice consumption during rush hours, conventional devices are usually equipped with a large drive. During storage, the ice in the drive requires mechanical mixing to prevent freezing of ice cubes to each other. This significantly increases the complexity and dimensions of the ice maker. Very often, a large ice storage ring is required, which, in turn, may require the storage to be located separately from the point of delivery. Transporting ice from a remote location to a dispensing point may increase the complexity of the device and the ice-making operation. In addition, ice stored for a considerable period of time may be contaminated. Conventional devices do not have equipment for ice making, which corresponds to ice-making cycles of less than about 10-15 minutes.

Thus, there is a need for a new device for ice-making, which would allow faster freezing of ice cubes and allow production close to "ice-making on demand" and the rate of preparation, which, in turn, are converted to a smaller total area occupied by the device .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, an ice cube mold is obtained. The mold forms a first volume for an ice cube, wherein the mold comprises a lower surface having an inner perimeter and side surfaces. Each side surface of the mold has a corresponding inner perimeter, a corresponding upper edge and a corresponding lower edge. The corresponding upper edge of each side surface is longer than the corresponding lower edge. Each side surface extends inward from a corresponding upper edge to a corresponding lower edge. The shape contains a three-dimensional shape, wherein the three-dimensional shape is located in the first volume, and the three-dimensional shape contains the second volume. The second volume is formed by the upper external perimeter, lower external perimeter and at least a protrusion of a three-dimensional shape. The protrusion extends upward between the lower outer perimeter and the upper outer perimeter. The protrusion narrows as it passes upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape. The mold also forms a third volume between the first volume and the second volume, wherein the mold is configured to receive water into the third volume.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof, which should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A-1L are ice cube shapes according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a fragment of a form according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3A-3C are views of ice cubes with various shapes of protrusions and ribs that increase the surface area of the interface between the mold and water according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a fragment of a form according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of an ice cube shape according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fragment of a form according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fragment of a form according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 8A is a graph of a percentage of the volume of an ice cube 150 over time.

FIG. 8B is a graph showing the wall thickness of an ice cube in mm over time.

FIG. 9A-9F are views of parts of ice cubes that contain water, and parts of ice cubes that contain ice, after 30 seconds of freezing according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 10A-10D are views of an ice cube according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 11A-11D are views of another ice cube according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 12A-12D are views of an additional ice cube according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 13A-13D are views of another ice cube according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing freezing time by 95% by volume and time to reach complete freezing of ice cubes according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 15A-15D are views of a switchgear according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of an assembled embodiment of rear-mounted ice cubes according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 16B is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17A and 17B are views of the form shown in FIG. 16A and 16B according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 18A is a side view of a mold according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 18B is a bottom view of the shape shown in FIG. 18A.

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of a lid according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 20A-20C are views of an embodiment according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of an entire assembly and a perspective view with a spatial separation of parts of an embodiment according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 22A and 22B are top and bottom perspective views of an embodiment according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 23A-23H are illustrations of various ice-making procedures, each of which includes at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 24A-24E are illustrations of additional various ice-making procedures, each of which includes at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 25 is an illustration of another ice-making procedure that includes at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 26 is an illustration of another ice-making procedure that includes at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 27A-27C are views of an embodiment according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 28A-28D are illustrations of an ice blank and apparatus according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 29A-29I are illustrations of an ice blank and apparatus according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 30 is a side view of a water filling system according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 31A-31D are illustrations of an ice blank and apparatus according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 32A-32L are illustrations of an ice blank and apparatus according to at least one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an object of the invention, the ice maker can have reduced overall dimensions and provide a reduction in the freezing time of the ice cube to ensure production on the basis of the "ice on demand" principle.

According to the object, the heat flux from the water in the mold can be increased in the direction of the mold. The heat flux can be increased by increasing the interface between the mold and water.

According to an object, a predetermined shape of ice cubes can be used to reduce freezing time. The predetermined shape of the ice cubes may be in the form of a truncated pyramid, similar to an ice cube in the shape of a regular playing cube.

According to the object, a form with many cells and many channels for the refrigerant can be used. An evaporator may be used to ensure freezing of the water surface on the open side of the cell. The ice maker may comprise a refrigerant distribution system configured to form a path for a refrigerant that provides substantially uniform heat removal from a plurality of ice cubes.

According to an aspect of the invention, an ice maker can be obtained. The ice maker may comprise a mold, wherein the mold forms a first volume for an ice cube, and the mold contains a bottom surface having an inner perimeter and side surfaces. Each side surface of the mold may have a corresponding inner perimeter, a corresponding upper edge and a corresponding lower edge. The corresponding upper edge of each side surface may be longer than the corresponding lower edge. Each side surface may extend inward from a corresponding upper edge to a corresponding lower edge. The shape may have a three-dimensional shape, wherein the three-dimensional shape is located in the first volume, and the three-dimensional shape contains the second volume. The second volume may be formed by the upper external perimeter, the lower external perimeter and at least a protrusion of a three-dimensional shape. The protrusion may extend upward between the lower outer perimeter and the upper outer perimeter. The protrusion may narrow as it passes upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape. The mold may also form a third volume between the first volume and the second volume, wherein the mold is configured to receive water into the third volume. The device may comprise a cooling device configured to cool the water in a third volume sufficiently to freeze the water.

According to one aspect of the invention, an ice maker comprising a mold can be produced. The mold may include an upper part and a lower part. Each of the parts may comprise a plurality of ice cube mold cells corresponding to a plurality of ice cube mold cells of another part of the mold. The form can be configured so that the first cell of the form of the lower part of the form and the corresponding second cell of the upper part of the form contain a single cavity. A single cavity can form a volume for one ice cube. The first channel may be configured to fill the first mold cell and the corresponding second mold cell with water. The second channel may be configured to allow air to escape from a single cavity when the first mold cell and the second mold cell are filled with water. The plurality of channels can be configured to receive refrigerant and provide sufficient heat transfer from the water inside the mold cells to the mold cells and freeze the water inside the mold cells.

According to the object, the ice maker may provide for the maintenance of the evaporator. The evaporator may be separate from the mold. The evaporator and the mold can be combined, with the evaporation taking place in the mold. A dual or dual circuit system can be used. In a dual-circuit system, evaporation occurs in the evaporator, for example, the coolant is cooled in the evaporator. Being cooled in the evaporator, the coolant is introduced into contact with the heat transfer form, and the coolant cools the form. According to the object, the coolant passes through part of the mold to cool the mold.

According to one aspect of the invention, an ice maker comprising a mold and a plate can be produced. The mold may be located above the plate. The mold may contain a plurality of ice cube mold cells, with each ice cube mold cell having a hole at the base of the cell and an air outlet channel at the top of the cell, allowing air to exit the ice cube mold cell when the plate is filled with water. Each mold and plate may each contain a plurality of channels, each channel being configured to receive refrigerant and provide sufficient heat transfer from the water inside the ice cube mold cells to the ice cube mold cells and freeze the water inside the ice cube mold cells. Each ice cube mold cell may contain a corresponding channel allowing air to escape from the ice cube mold cell when the plate is filled with water.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method for producing a plurality of ice cubes can be obtained. The method may include placing the mold on top of the plate. A form can contain many cells. Each cell may include an opening at the base of the cell and an air outlet in the upper part of the cell. The method may comprise filling each of the plurality of cells by filling the plate with water and transferring heat from the water within the plurality of cells to the mold cells and freezing the water within the cells.

According to one aspect of the invention, an ice maker comprising a mold can be obtained, wherein the mold may comprise a plurality of cells. Each cell may contain a hole at the top of each cell. The mold may contain a plurality of refrigerant channels and an upper portion. The upper part can be hermetically sealed with a cover. The upper part may comprise a vacuum chamber. A vacuum pump may be used, with the vacuum pump configured to pump out moist mold air. A tube may be used extending from the vacuum chamber of the mold with a vacuum pump. When the pressure in the vacuum chamber begins to decrease, dissolved gases begin to escape from most of the water in each cell. The vacuum pump can be configured to pump out moist mold air so that the pressure in the vacuum chamber decreases below 61 0.5 Pa ((0.18 mercury) at 32 ° F).

According to one aspect of the invention, an ice cube is obtained. The ice cube may comprise an upper surface having an external perimeter, a lower surface having an external perimeter, and side surfaces. Each side surface may include a corresponding outer perimeter, a corresponding upper edge and a corresponding lower edge, wherein the corresponding upper edge of each side surface is longer than the corresponding lower edge, and each side surface extends inward from the corresponding upper edge to the corresponding lower edge. The upper surface, lower surface and side surfaces may form a first volume. In an embodiment of the invention, a three-dimensional shape may be used, wherein the three-dimensional shape is in the first volume. The three-dimensional form may contain a second volume. The second volume may be formed by the upper external perimeter, lower external perimeter and at least a protrusion. The protrusion may extend upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape. The protrusion may narrow as it passes upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape. An ice cube may also form a third volume between the first volume and the second volume, wherein the third volume contains ice and the second volume contains unfrozen liquid or air or a combination of unfrozen liquid and air.

According to an object, a refrigerant dispenser may be provided. The refrigerant dispenser may include an inlet, outlet, and dispenser. The input can be configured to receive refrigerant. The dispenser may be configured to receive refrigerant from the inlet. The dispenser may be configured to distribute the refrigerant so that the refrigerant provides substantially uniform or equal cooling to a plurality of forms that contain liquid that needs to be cooled by the refrigerant.

According to the object, an ice machine that is configured to produce ice faster than conventional ice machines can be obtained. A conventional ice machine, such as an ice machine used to make ice for beverage dispensers, typically has ice production cycles of about 10-15 minutes, i.e., about 4-6 cycles per hour. According to an aspect of the present invention, an ice maker can be produced which can produce ice in less than 1 minute, that is, more than 60 cycles per hour. According to an aspect of the present invention, an ice machine can be produced that produces ice in about 30 seconds, that is, in about 120 cycles per hour. According to an aspect of the present invention, an ice machine can be produced that produces ice in about 17 seconds or less, that is, in about 212 cycles per hour or more. According to an aspect of the present invention, an ice machine can be produced that produces ice in about 15 seconds, that is, in about 240 cycles per hour. The above 30 second and 17 second time periods are freeze times. It takes time to fill the cells with water, freeze it, separate the ice from the mold and collect the ice. Thus, the production cycle is approximately 70-90 seconds and includes 30 seconds of freezing, and the production cycle is approximately 60-80 seconds and includes 17 seconds of freezing.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an ice maker may be provided that includes an ice maker. The ice maker may comprise various structures to facilitate the extraction of the ice cubes of the mold. The ice maker may be configured to be included in the ice maker and / or interact with the ice maker described herein.

According to an object of the invention, an apparatus for preparing ice containing a mold is obtained. The device comprises a lever and an ice cube mold containing a plurality of ice cube mold cells. The ice cube mold is configured to cool the liquid in the cells of the ice cube mold enough for an ice cube to be formed in each cell of the ice cube mold. The device comprises a water filling system, while the water filling system is configured to move along the lever. The water filling system contains dispensers for filling with water. Each dispenser for filling with water is configured to dispense liquid for freezing into an appropriate cell of the ice cube mold. Each dispenser for filling with water is configured to extract an ice cube formed in a corresponding cell of the ice cube mold from the corresponding cell of the ice cube mold when the water filling system is removed from the ice cube mold. In addition, the device comprises means for removing ice cubes. The ice cube remover can be configured to push the ice cubes away from the dispensers for filling with water when the water filling system moves along the arm to the ice cube remover.

According to the object of the invention, the ice maker is configured to provide conditions for fast (on demand) production. This is achieved by the increased heat exchange between water and the mold, which is achieved by the special design of the cells, which increase the surface area of the interface between the water and the mold. In FIG. 1A shows an embodiment according to objects of the invention. More specifically, in FIG. 1A shows the shape of an ice cube 100 with an increased interface between the water and the mold. An ice cube 100 may be formed using an appropriate ice cube shape 126. The ice cube 100 comprises an upper surface 102, a lower surface 101 and four side surfaces 105, 106, 107 and 108. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper surface 102, the lower surface 101 and the four side surfaces 105, 106, 107 and 108 may be in the form of parallelograms. The upper surface 102 may have an external perimeter 112, and the lower surface 101 may have an external perimeter 111. Each of the four side surfaces 105, 106, 107 and 108 may have an external perimeter 114. The external perimeter 114 of each side surface may have an upper edge 116 and a lower edge 118. In an embodiment, the top edge 116 of each side surface 105, 106, 107 and 108 may be longer than the lower edge 118 of each side surface 105, 106, 107 and 108. In an embodiment of the invention, each of the side surfaces 105, 106, 107 and 108 may t extend or lean inward from the upper edge 116 of each side surface.

In an embodiment of the invention, mold 126 is obtained. Mold 126 can form a first volume for an ice cube, such as an ice cube 100. Mold 126 may include a bottom surface having an inner perimeter. Mold 126 may also include side surfaces. Each side surface of the mold may have a corresponding inner perimeter, a corresponding upper edge and a corresponding lower edge. The corresponding upper edge of each side surface may be longer than the corresponding lower edge, with each side surface extending inward from the corresponding upper edge to the corresponding lower edge. The bottom surface and side surfaces of the mold 126 may correspond to the bottom surface 101 and the side surfaces 105, 106, 107 and 108 of the ice cube 100. Mold 126 may include an upper surface having an inner diameter. The upper surface of the mold 126 may correspond to the upper surface 102 of the ice cube 100.

In an embodiment of the invention, a three-dimensional shape 122. is obtained. In an embodiment of the invention, a three-dimensional shape 122 may be a generally three-dimensional "U" -shaped configuration 120. The U-shape 120 may have an upper outer perimeter 103 and a lower outer perimeter 104 and side ribs 124. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper outer perimeter 103 may be smaller than the lower outer perimeter 104. In an embodiment of the invention, the side ribs 124 may taper upward from the lower outer perimeter 104 to the upper outer perimeter 103.

In FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E show various views of an ice cube 100. In FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an ice cube 100 after it has been removed from the mold 126 shown in FIG. 1A. The ice cube 100 may have the following dimensions: each upper edge 116 may have a length L1 (see Fig. 1C and 1D), each lower edge 118 may have a length L2 (see Fig. 1D) and a length L3 between the plane of the upper surface 102 and the plane of the bottom surface 101 (see Fig. 1D). In an embodiment of the invention, the ice cube 100 may have inclined outer side walls, and the length L1 may be greater than the length L2. In an embodiment, the length L1 may be 21 mm, the length L2 may be 19 mm, and the length L3 may be 20 mm. As shown in FIG. 1C, after the three-dimensional shape 122 is removed from the ice cube 100, a cavity 128 is formed in the ice cube 100. The cavity 128 may include branches 130 and 132 that face each other, and a connecting portion 134 that is connected to each branch. In an embodiment of the invention, the distance D1 between the branches 130 and 132 may be larger on the upper surface 102 than the distance D2 on the lower surface 101. For example, the distance D1 may be 5 mm and the distance D2 may be 3 mm. Due to the narrowing of the ice cube 100 between the length L1 and the length L2, the difference in length between the length L1 and the length L2 is shown as the distance D3 at each end of the segment L2. In an embodiment, D3 may be 1 mm.

In FIG. 1F, 1G, 1H, and 1I, various views of an embodiment of an ice cube 100 ′ are shown. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1F-1I, the length L1 may be 23 mm, the length L2 may be 21 mm, the length L3 may be 22 mm, the distance D1 may be 5 mm and the distance D2 may be 3 mm. The ice cube 100 'may have a shape similar to that of the ice cube 100 with other sizes for L1, L2 and / or L3. Due to the narrowing of the ice cube 100 'between the length L1 and the length L2, the difference in lengths between the length L1 and the length L2 is shown as the distance D3 at each end of the segment L2. In an embodiment, D3 may be 1 mm.

In FIG. 1J, 1K, and 1L show views of an ice cube 150 having vertical walls. Ice cube 150 may have a cavity 152. Ice cube 150 may have the following dimensions: each upper edge 154 may have a length L1, each lower edge 156 may have a length L2 and a length L3 between the plane of the upper surface 158 and the plane of the lower surface 160. In an embodiment of the invention, the length L1 may be 20 mm, the length L2 may be 20 mm and the length L3 may be 20 mm. As shown in FIG. 1K, after a three-dimensional shape (not shown) that corresponds to the recess 152 is removed from the ice cube 150, a recess 152 is formed in the ice cube 150. The three-dimensional shape that corresponds to the recess 152 may have a shape similar to the three-dimensional shape 122 described in connection with FIG. 1A, but with vertical walls, and not with inclined walls. The recess 152 may include branches 162 and 164, which are facing each other, and a connecting part 166, which is connected to each branch. In an embodiment of the invention, the distance D1 between the branches 162 and 164 may be 4 mm. Branch 162 may have a width W1, branch 164 may have a width W2, and the connecting portion 166 may have a width W3. In an embodiment of the invention, each width W1, W2 and W3 may be 4 mm.

Ice cube 150 may be formed according to the following procedure. The empty mold is cooled from the base of the mold to about -30% to -35%. The mold is filled with room temperature water using a syringe. After approximately 30-35 seconds, the ice cube 150 can be frozen approximately 95% by volume and after approximately 45 seconds 100%. In FIG. 8A shows the percentage of ice cube volume 150 over time.

An ice cube having the same dimensions as an ice cube 150 is formed according to the following procedure. The empty mold is cooled from the base of the mold to approximately −30 ° C. to −35 ° C. The mold is filled with room temperature water using a syringe. After approximately 17 seconds, unfrozen water can be sucked out of the mold, leaving a layer of ice on the surface of the mold. The average wall thickness can be approximately 2 mm after 17 seconds of freezing. When the freezing time is increased to 30 seconds, the average wall thickness is approximately 3 mm. In FIG. 8B shows the wall thickness of the ice cube in mm over time.

In FIG. 9A depicts portions of an ice cube 150 that contain water and a portion of an ice cube 150 that contains ice after 30 seconds of freezing according to the above procedure. In FIG. 9B shows the temperature (in degrees Celsius) for an ice cube 150 after 30 seconds of freezing according to the procedure indicated above with respect to FIG. 8A.

The ice cube 100 described in connection with FIG. 1B-1E may be formed according to the following procedure. The empty form is cooled to approximately -35 ° C. The mold is filled with room temperature water using a syringe. In FIG. 9C shows portions of an ice cube 100 that contain water and a portion of an ice cube 100 that contains ice after 30 seconds of freezing according to the above procedure. In FIG. 9D shows the temperature (in degrees Celsius) for a 100 ice cube after 30 seconds of freezing according to the procedure described above.

The ice cube 100 'described in connection with FIG. 1F-1I may be formed according to the following procedure. The empty form is cooled to approximately -35 ° C. The mold is filled with room temperature water using a syringe. In FIG. 9E shows portions of an ice cube 100 'that contains water and a portion of an ice cube 100 that contains ice after 30 seconds of freezing according to the above procedure. In FIG. 9F shows the temperature (in degrees Celsius) for a 100 ice cube after 30 seconds of freezing according to the procedure described above.

In FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a mold 200 according to at least one aspect of the invention. Mold 200 may be configured to fit the ice cube shown in FIG. 1. The mold body 201 may include a plurality of individual ice cubes 202 of the mold. Each mold cell may include ribs 203 connected to the mold body 201. Refrigerant channels 204 may be located near cells 202 to provide efficient heat transfer to freeze water in mold cells 202.

According to an aspect of the invention, the use of the ice cube shown in FIG. 1 can lead to an approximately 10-fold reduction in the freezing time of an ice cube compared with a monolithic cube of the same external dimensions.

Other embodiments of the invention are shown in FIG. 3A, 3B and 3C. As shown in FIG. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the protrusion and / or ribs may have other shapes and may be configured to increase the interface between the mold and the surface.

In FIG. 3A shows the shape of an ice cube 300 with an increased interface between the water and the mold according to at least one aspect of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3A, the ice cube 300 may have an upper surface 302, a lower surface 301, and side surfaces 305, 306, 307, and 308. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper surface 302, lower surface 301, and four side surfaces 305, 306, 307 and 308 may take the form parallelograms. Ice cube 300 may be formed using an appropriate ice cube mold, such as mold 126 shown in FIG. 1. The upper surface 302 may have an external perimeter 312, and the lower surface 301 may have an external perimeter 311. Each of the four side surfaces 305, 306, 307 and 308 may have an external perimeter 314. The external perimeter 314 of each side surface may have an upper edge 316 and a lower edge 318. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper edge 316 of each side surface 305, 306, 307 and 308 may be longer than the lower edge 318 of each side surface 305, 306, 307 and 308. In an embodiment of the invention, each of the side surfaces 305, 306 307 and 308 mo is held or tilted inwardly from top edge 316 of each side surface. In an embodiment of the invention, shape 320 is obtained. Shape 320 may comprise a three-dimensional shape 322. In an embodiment of the invention, the three-dimensional shape 322 may have a generally three-dimensional truncated “M” shape. The three-dimensional shape 322 may have an upper outer perimeter 303, a lower outer perimeter 304, and side ribs 324. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper outer perimeter 303 may be smaller than the lower outer perimeter 304. In an embodiment of the invention, the side ribs 324 may taper downwardly from the lower outer perimeter 304 to the upper outer perimeter 303.

In FIG. 3B shows the shape of an ice cube 340 with an increased interface between the water and the mold according to at least one aspect of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3B, the ice cube 340 may have an upper surface 342, a lower surface 341 and side surfaces 345, 346, 347 and 348. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper surface 342, the lower surface 341 and the four side surfaces 345, 346, 347 and 348 may be in the form of parallelograms . Ice cube 340 may be formed using an appropriate ice cube mold. The upper surface 342 may have an external perimeter 352, and the lower surface 341 may have an external perimeter 351. Each of the four side surfaces 345, 346, 347 and 348 may have an external perimeter 354. The external perimeter 354 of each side surface may have an upper edge 356 and a lower edge 358. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper edge 356 of each side surface 345, 346, 347 and 348 may be longer than the lower edge 358 of each side surface 345, 346, 347 and 348. In an embodiment of the invention, each of the side surfaces 345, 346, 347 and 348 may t extend or lean inward from the top edge 356 of each side surface. In an embodiment of the invention, a shape 360 is obtained. A shape 360 may comprise a three-dimensional shape 362. In an embodiment of the invention, the three-dimensional shape 362 may be a whole set of three-dimensional L-shaped configurations, while two of the three-dimensional L-shaped configurations (363, 364) are mirror images of each other. The third three-dimensional shape 365 may be between three-dimensional L-shaped forms (363, 364) and may connect them. The three-dimensional shape 362 may have an upper outer perimeter 366, a lower outer perimeter 367, and side ribs 368. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper outer perimeter 366 may be smaller than the lower outer perimeter 367. In an embodiment of the invention, the side ribs 368 may taper downward from the lower the outer perimeter 367 to the upper outer perimeter 366.

In FIG. 3C shows the shape of an ice cube 380 with an increased interface between the water and the mold according to at least one aspect of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3C, the ice cube 380 may have an upper surface 382, a lower surface 381, and side surfaces 385, 386, 387, and 388. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper surface 382, lower surface 381, and four side surfaces 385, 386, 387 and 388 may take the form parallelograms. Ice cube 380 may be formed using an appropriate ice cube mold. The upper surface 382 may have an external perimeter 389, and the lower surface 381 may have an external perimeter 390. Each of the four side surfaces 385, 386, 387 and 388 may have an external perimeter 391. The external perimeter 391 of each side surface may have an upper edge 392 and a lower edge 393. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper edge 392 of each side surface 385, 386, 387 and 388 may be longer than the lower edge 393 of each side surface 385, 386, 387 and 388. In an embodiment of the invention, each of the side surfaces 385, 386, 387 and 388 may t extend or lean inward from the upper edge 392 of each side surface. In an embodiment of the invention, mold 394 may be used. Mold 394 may comprise a three-dimensional mold 395. In an embodiment of the invention, the three-dimensional mold 395 may have a shape generally similar to an ice cube 380, but smaller. In an embodiment of the invention, the three-dimensional shape 395 is an inverted mirror image of the reduced volume of the ice cube 380. The three-dimensional shape 395 may have an upper external perimeter 396 and a lower external perimeter 397. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper external perimeter 396 may be smaller than the lower external perimeter 397. In an embodiment of the invention, the three-dimensional shape 395 may have side surfaces 398. Side surfaces 398 may taper along the upward passage from the lower outer perimeter 397 to the upper outer perimeter 396.

An embodiment of form 400 according to various aspects of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. The mold 400 may comprise a first part 401 and a second part 402. Each of the parts may have a plurality of mold cubes 410 for ice cubes. The cells can be placed so that one cell on the first part 401 and one cell on the second part 402 form a single cavity 403 to produce one ice cube. The cavity 403 may be filled with water 411 through the channel 405. The channel 406 may allow air to exit the cavity 403 when the latter is filled with water 411. Each mold part 401 and 402 may also include a plurality of refrigerant channels 409 409. For sealing the cavity 403, the first part 401 and / or second part 402 may be covered by a sealing coating 408 on a surface area where the first part 401 is mated to the second part 402.

In FIG. 5 shows a mold form for ice cubes according to objects of the invention. Ice cube 500 can be used to reduce freezing time. In this form, the ice cube 500 may take the form of a truncated pyramid, similar to an ice cube in the shape of a regular playing cube. However, unlike a conventional dice, the ice cube 500 may form an internal volume 502 that is not completely frozen, thereby creating a wall structure 501 of the ice cube that defines the internal volume 502 filled with water.

Since the volume of ice in an ice cube 500 is much smaller than the ice volume of a monolithic ice cube of the same external size, the freezing time of an ice cube to form an ice cube 500 can be approximately 20 times less than the time of freezing an ice cube to form a monolithic cube of the same external dimensions.

In FIG. 6 shows a mold design that can produce the ice cube 500 shown in FIG. 5. Mold 600 may include mold 601 and plate 602. Mold 601 and plate 602 may each have a plurality of refrigerant channels 606 (not shown). Mold 601 may also contain a plurality of ice cubes 603. Each cell 603 may have a corresponding channel 605 for discharging cell air when the plate 602 is filled with water 604.

The freezing time can be selected so that the resulting wall thickness of the ice cube can be sufficient to provide the required mechanical strength of the ice cube. Since the volume of ice in the ice cube 500 is much smaller than the volume of a monolithic ice cube of the same external size, the time required to freeze the structure of the ice cube 500, that is, the walls of the ice cube 501, can be reduced by a factor of approximately 20 times for the wall thickness of approximately 2-3 mm.

An alternative approach for producing ice cubes is shown in FIG. 7 according to at least one aspect of the invention. An ice maker 700 may comprise a mold 701. A mold 701 may comprise a plurality of cells 702 and a plurality of channels 710 for refrigerant 703. Evaporation of water may be used to freeze the water surface on the open side 711 of the cell 702. The upper part 712 of the mold 701 can be hermetically sealed with a cover 704. The upper part 712 can be connected by a tube 705 to a vacuum pump 706, which can be configured to pump out moist air from the mold 701.

When the pressure above the surface of the water (for example, in the vacuum chamber 707) begins to decrease, the dissolved gases begin to flow out of the mass of water. When the pressure drops below the partial pressure point of water vapor (which is 61.5 Pa (0.18 mercury) at 32 ° F), water / ice begins to evaporate intensively. This causes a significant recovery of thermal energy from the remaining liquid water.

In FIG. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D show an ice cube 1000. As shown in these figures, an ice cube 1000 may be formed using a three-dimensional shape 1002. Three-dimensional shape 1002 may include vertical walls 1004 and has an upper surface 1006 and a lower surface 1008 that are square in shape. Each outer wall 1010 of the ice cube 1000 may have a square shape. Each outer wall 1010 may have a length L1. In an embodiment of the invention, the length L1 may be 20 mm. Each outer wall 1010 may have a width W4. In an embodiment of the invention, the width of W4 may be 4 mm. The thickness or width of each outer wall 1010 may be 4 mm, and the recess 1012 formed in the ice cube 1000 after the three-dimensional shape 1002 has been removed may be 12 mm between the opposing inner surfaces 1014 and 1016 of the ice cube 1000.

An ice cube 1000 may be formed according to the following procedure. An empty mold corresponding to the shape of an ice cube 1000 can be cooled to -35 degrees Celsius. The mold is filled with room temperature water using a syringe.

In FIG. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D depict the ice cube 380 shown in FIG. 3C. Three-dimensional shape 395 is shown in FIG. 11C. The ice cube 380 may have the following dimensions: each upper edge 392 may have a length L1; each lower edge 393 may have a length L2 and a length L3 between the plane of the upper surface 382 and the plane of the lower surface 381. In an embodiment of the invention, L1 may be 21 mm, L2 may be 19 mm, and L3 may be 20 mm. As shown in FIG. 11B, after the three-dimensional shape 395 is removed from the ice cube 380, a recess 399 is formed in the ice cube 380. As described with respect to FIG. 3C, in an embodiment of the invention, the three-dimensional shape 395 may be an inverted mirror image of the reduced volume of the ice cube 380. The three-dimensional shape 395 may have an upper external perimeter 396 and a lower external perimeter 397. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper external perimeter 396 may be smaller than the lower external perimeter 397. In an embodiment of the invention, the three-dimensional shape 395 may have side surfaces 398. Side surfaces 398 may taper upward from the lower outer perimeter 397 to the upper outer perimeter 396. The width from the recess 399 to the upper edge 392 may be a width W5. In an embodiment of the invention, the width of W5 may be 5 mm. The width from the recess 399 to the lower edge 393 may be a width W6. In an embodiment of the invention, the width of W6 may be 3 mm. The difference in length between the length L1 and the length L2 is shown as the distance D3 at each end of the length L2. In an embodiment, D3 may be 1 mm.

In FIG. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D show an ice cube 1200. The ice cube 1200 has rounded outer corners 1202, but is otherwise similar to the ice cube 380 shown in FIG. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D.

In FIG. 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D show an ice cube 1300. The ice cube 1300 has a shape similar to that of the ice cube 1200 shown in FIG. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D, except that the ice cube 1300 has dimensions different from those of the 1200 ice cube. For example, as shown in FIG. 13A-13D, the length L1 may be 23 mm, the length L2 may be 21 mm, and the length L3 may be 22 mm. As shown in FIG. 13A-13D, the width W5 may be 5 mm, the width W6 may be 3 mm, and the distance D3 may be 1 mm.

In FIG. Figure 14 shows the time for freezing by 95% by volume and the time to achieve complete freezing of the ice cubes 150, 100, 100 ′, 1000, 380, 1200 and 1300, respectively.

In FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B, FIG. 15C and FIG. 15D shows a refrigerant distribution device 1500 according to at least one aspect of the invention. The device 1500 may include an input 1502, an output 1504, and a distribution device 1506. The input 1502 may be configured to receive a stream of refrigerant having a first temperature. The distribution device 1506 may be configured to receive a flow of refrigerant from the inlet 1502. The device 1500 may also include a tray 1508. The distribution device 1506 may be configured to distribute the refrigerant so that the refrigerant provides substantially uniform or uniform cooling. a variety of forms 1512, which may contain a liquid that needs to be cooled with a refrigerant. The dispenser 1506 may include a pallet 1508 and a dispenser housing 1510. The housing 1510 may be configured to receive a refrigerant stream from inlet 1502. The pallet 1508 may be configured to receive a refrigerant stream from a housing 1510 when refrigerant flows from case 1510, and cools many molds 1512 when refrigerant flows through a drip tray 1508 to outlet 1504. The refrigerant may have a second outlet temperature 1504. The second temperature of the refrigerant outlet 1504 may be different from the first t mperatury refrigerant inlet 1502. For example, the second refrigerant temperature at the outlet 1504 may be higher than the first refrigerant inlet temperature of 1502.

The dispenser 1506 may include any appropriate combination of the shape of the tray and the shape of the housing for distributing refrigerant in the tray 1508 to provide substantially uniform or uniform cooling in a variety of forms 1512, which may contain liquid that needs to be cooled by the refrigerant. As shown in FIG. 15B, FIG. 15C and FIG. 15D, switchgear 1506 may include a housing, or tube 1510 may be elongated. The housing 1510 may be in the form of a bar. The housing 1510 may comprise a first section 1514, a second section 1516, and a third section 1518. The first section 1514 may be closer to the input 1502 than the second section 1516, and the second section 1516 may be closer to the input 1502 than the third section 1518. The second section 1516 may be closer to the exit 1504 than the first section 1514. The third section 1518 may be closer to the exit 1504 than the first section 1514 and the second section 1516. Thus, the second section 1516 may be the middle section, which is between the first section 1514 and the third section 1518. In an embodiment of the invention, the housing 1510 may press on the surface 1542 of the pallet 1508. In another embodiment, the housing 1510 may extend over, but not lie on the surface 1542 of the pallet 1508. As shown in FIG. 15B, 15C, and 15D, the casing 1510 may have a length, width, and height, each of which is less than a corresponding length, width, and height of the pallet 1508.

In an embodiment, the housing 1510 may comprise a first end 1520, a second end 1522, an upper surface 1524 and a lower surface 1526, the lower surface 1526 being opposite to the upper surface 1524. The lower surface 1526 of the housing 1510 may lie on the surface 1542 of the pallet 1508. The housing 1510 may contain the first side surface 1528 and the second side surface 1530, while the second side surface 1530 is opposite to the first side surface 1528. The first end 1520 may be in fluid communication with the inlet 1502. The second end 1522 can m located at the end of the third section 1518.

The first section 1514 may form a first set of holes 1532. The first set of holes 1532 may contain two holes in the first side surface 1528 and two holes in the second side surface 1530, while two holes in the second side surface 1530 are opposite to two holes in the first side surface 1528.

The second section 1516 may form a second set of holes 1534. The second set of holes 1534 may contain one hole in the upper surface 1524, one hole in the first side surface 1528 and one hole in the second side surface 1530.

The third section 1518 may form a third set of holes 1536. The third set of holes 1536 may contain two holes in the upper surface 1524, three holes in the first side surface 1528, and three holes in the second side surface 1530.

In FIG. 15D shows arrows that depict the flow of refrigerant from the first, second, and third sets of openings and into the pallet 1508. The tray 1508 may have an end 1538. The end 1538 may form one or more openings 1540. The opening (s) 1540 may be a plurality of openings, as shown in FIG. 15D. As shown in FIG. 15D, the refrigerant stream may exit from the drip tray 1508 through the drip hole (s) 1540 and into the outlet 1504. Alternatively to the drill hole (s) 1540 or in addition to the drill hole (s) 1540, the end 1538 may comprise a funnel-shaped or truncated cone shape configured to receive the flow of refrigerant from the pallet 1508 and transmitting the flow of refrigerant to the exit 1504.

Those skilled in the art will understand that according to the invention, when the refrigerant flows out of the housing 1510 and into the drip tray 1508 and then flows to the outlet 1504, the refrigerant will cool the liquid, which can be in a variety of forms 1512, by extracting heat from the liquid. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that according to the invention, the location, quantity and size of each of the openings of the first, second and third sets of openings may be different in order to distribute the refrigerant so that the refrigerant provides substantially the same or uniform cooling of the plurality of forms 1512, which may contain liquid that must be refrigerated. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, according to the invention, uniformly or uniformly cooling a liquid in a plurality of forms can freeze the liquid in each mold at approximately the same speed, thereby forming an ice cube in each mold at approximately the same time.

Those skilled in the art will understand that according to the invention, the refrigerant dispensing device 1500 and / or the dispensing device 1506 can be used to create ice cubes, such as the ice cubes described here, for example, the ice cube 100 (shown in FIGS. 1A-1E) cube 100 'ice (shown in FIG. 1F-1I), ice cube 150 (shown in FIG. 1J-1K), ice cubes formed in ice cube mold cells 202 (FIG. 2), ice cube 300 (shown in FIG. 3A) , ice cube 340 (shown in FIG. 3B), ice cube 380 (shown in FIG. 3C and FIGS. 11A-11D), ice cubes formed in ice cube mold cells (see FIG. 4), ice cube 500 (see FIG. 5), ice cubes formed in ice cube molds 603 (see FIG. 6), ice cubes formed in ice cube molds 702 (see FIG. 7), ice cube 1000 ( shown in Fig. 10A-10D), ice cube 1200 (showing fig. 12A-12D) and ice cube 1300 (shown in Figs. 13A-13D).

The device 1500 can also be used to facilitate the removal of ice cubes from molds 1512. For example, after ice cubes have been formed in molds 1512, the flow of refrigerant can be stopped, and the flow of the heating agent, also called hot cooling agent, can be directed along the same channel as the refrigerant, that is, the heating agent can be directed through the inlet 1502, the dispenser 1506, the tray 1508 and the outlet 1504. The heating agent may have a first temperature at the inlet 1502 and a second temperature at the outlet 1504. The second temperature of the heating agent at the outlet 1504 may be different from the first temperature of the heating agent at the inlet 1502. For example, the second temperature of the heating agent at the outlet 1504 may be lower than the first temperature of the heating agent at the inlet 1502. When the heating agent passes through a heating tray 1508 the agent heats the interface between the ice and the mold, thereby freeing ice cubes from molds 1512.

A device for preparing ice may contain two forms. Each form can contain many form cells. Two forms can be in opposite phases and can rotate relative to each other.

In FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B shows views of a molding apparatus 1600, which may include ice cube molds 1602 and 1604 connected to the rear. In FIG. 16A is a perspective view of an assembly of a molding device 1600. In FIG. 16B is an exploded perspective view of the molding apparatus 1600 shown in FIG. 16A. Mold 1602 may comprise a first plurality of mold cells 1606, for example, forty-five mold cells on one side of mold 1602, and a first heat transfer device 1610 on the opposite side of the first plurality of mold cells 1606. Mold 1604 may include a second plurality of mold cells 1608, for example, forty-five mold cells on one side of mold 1604 and a second heat transfer device 1612 on the opposite side with respect to the second plurality of mold cells 1608.

The molding device 1600 may comprise a first assembly 1614. The first assembly 1614 may comprise a mold 1602, a first shape cap 1616, a first heat transfer apparatus 1610, and a first heat transfer apparatus cover 1618. The cover 1616 of the first form may include a thermally insulated cover and / or contain a thermally insulated material. The cover 1616 of the first shape can form a first opening 1634. The cover 1616 of the first shape can be configured so that when it is located on the shape 1602, the first opening 1634 allows you to fill a lot of cells 1606 of the shape with liquid, for example water, when the shape 1602 is upward position. The mold 1602 can be configured so that the first heat transfer device 1610 can be placed in the compartment 1636 of the cover 1618 of the first heat transfer device.

The molding device 1600 may comprise a second assembly 1620. The second assembly 1620 may comprise a mold 1604, a second mold cover 1622, a second heat transfer apparatus 1612 and a second heat transfer apparatus cover 1624. The cover 1622 of the second shape can form a second opening 1640. The cover 1624 of the second shape can be configured so that when it is located on the shape 1604, the second opening 1640 allows you to fill with liquid, for example, water, a lot of cells 1608 of the form, when the form 1604 is upward position. The mold 1604 may be configured so that the second heat transfer device 1612 can be placed in the compartment 1642 of the cover 1624 of the second heat transfer device.

Molding apparatus 1600 may comprise a housing 1626. Housing 1626 may be thermally insulated and / or contain thermally insulated material. Molding apparatus 1600 may include inlet pipes 1628 for refrigerant, outlet pipes 1628 'for refrigerant, shaft 1630 and shaft supports 1632. Refrigerant inlets 1628 and refrigerant outlets 1628 'may be flexible. Refrigerant inlets 1628 may be configured to supply refrigerant to at least the first heat transfer device 1610 when the first heat transfer device 1610 is in an upward position or to supply refrigerant to at least the second heat transfer device 1612 when the second device 1612 heat transfer is in the upward facing position. Shaft 1630 may be held by shaft supports 1632. Shaft 1630 can be configured to rotate around axis AA so that the first node 1614 and the second node 1620 can change positions. For example, the first assembly 1614 may rotate from the upward position shown in FIG. 16A to the downward position and the second assembly 1620 can rotate from the downward position shown in FIG. 16B, in the upward position.

The first node 1614 and the second node 1620 can be connected with the rear sides when they are in the housing 1626. In other words, the back side 1644 of the first heat transfer device 1618 can face the back side 1646 of the cover 1624 of the second heat transfer device.

Those skilled in the art will understand that, according to the invention, the first heat transfer device 1610 and the second heat transfer device 1612 may be any suitable heat transfer device including, but not limited to, a heat transfer device containing cooling fins 1648.

In FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B shows views of a mold 1602 in combination with a first heat transfer device 1610 and a cover 1618 of a first heat transfer device. In FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a combination, and FIG. 17Β shows a perspective view with a spatial separation of the details of the combination. At each end of the cover 1618, dividers 1650 of the first heat transfer device may be used. Separators 1650 may be configured to receive the desired refrigerant flow from the inlet pipe 1628 (see FIG. 16B) to the first heat transfer device 1610 and from the first heat transfer device 1610 to the output pipe 1628 ′ (see FIG. 16B). As shown in FIG. 16B, form 1604, second heat transfer device 1612, and second heat transfer device cover 1624 may have a similar or same shape as that of form 1602, first heat transfer device 1610, and first heat transfer device cover 1618, respectively.

In FIG. 18A is a side view of the above-described mold 1602 and the first heat transfer device 1610. In FIG. 18B is a bottom view of the first heat transfer device 1610. The mold 1604 and the second heat transfer device 1612 may have a similar or the same shape as the form 1602 and the first heat transfer device 1610, respectively. The cooling fins 1648 may have a radius R1 shown in FIG. 18A. In FIG. 18A, the dimensions of the mold 1602 and the first heat transfer device 1610 are shown as distances A, B, C. Distance A is the height of the cooling fins 1648. Distance B is the height of the first heat transfer device 1610. The distance C is the height of the combination of the mold 1602 and the first heat transfer device 1610.

In FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the above-described cover 1618 of the first heat transfer device. The cover 1624 of the second heat transfer device may have a similar or the same shape.

In FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B and FIG. 20C shows the first assembly 1614 when it is housed in the housing 1626. In FIG. 20A is a perspective view of FIG. 20B is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 20C is a plan view. Clamps 2002 may be used to maintain the position of the first assembly in housing 1626. The second assembly 1620, when housed in housing 1626, may have the same or the same shape as the first assembly 1614.

In FIG. 21 shows a molding device 1600 in cross-sectional view in a fully assembled state.

In FIG. 22A is a top perspective view of a mold 1602. In FIG. 22B is a perspective view from below of the mold 1602.

In FIG. 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, 23E, 23F, 23G, and 23H show views of various ice preparation procedures, each of which can be used to prepare a plurality of ice cubes.

In FIG. 23A shows an ice making procedure 2310. The following describes the procedure 2310. During step 2311 of the procedure 2310, water in the form 2300 is frozen, with the top surface of the formed ice cubes facing up. This freezing during step 2311 may last approximately 30 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2311 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. During step 2312 of procedure 2310, the mold 2300 is rotated, for example, 180 degrees so that the upper surface 2317 of the ice cubes 2315 faces down. Also, during step 2312, a heating agent 2314, also called a hot refrigerant, can be used to heat the mold 2300 to release ice cubes 2315 from the mold 2300. The heating agent 2314 may pass through channels 2304. The passage of the heating agent 2314 through channels 2304 may occur during or shortly after the rotation of the mold 2300. During step 2313 of the procedure 2310, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from the mold 2300 by gravity and using a rail 2303 to facilitate the extraction. In step 2313, the removal of ice cubes 2315 from the mold 2300 can be facilitated by the passage of the heating agent 2314 through the channels 2304.

In FIG. 23B shows an ice making procedure 2320. The following is a description of procedure 2320. During step 2321 of procedure 2320, water in mold 2300 is frozen when the top surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2321 can last about 30 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2321 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Channels 2304 can be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same form as form 1602 described above. During step 2322 of procedure 2320, the mold 2300 rotates, for example, 180 degrees so that the top surface 2317 of the ice cubes 2315 faces down. During step 2323 of procedure 2320, a thin electric heater 2306 can be used to heat the ice cubes 2315 from the mold 2300 to heat the mold 2300. The thin electric heater 2306 can surround or be on each interface between the ice and the mold. Also, during step 2323 of procedure 2320, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from mold 2300 due to gravity and using a rail 2303 to facilitate recovery. Procedure 2320 can provide rapid heating of the interface between the ice and the mold.

In FIG. 23C shows an ice preparation procedure 2330. Procedure 2330 is described below. During step 2331 of procedure 2330, water in mold 2300 is frozen when the top surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2331 can last about 30 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2331 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. During step 2332 of procedure 2330, the mold 2300 is rotated, for example, 180 degrees, so that the upper surface 2317 of the ice cubes 2315 faces down. During step 2333 of procedure 2330, the light source 2335 is turned on, and light emitted from the light source 2335 is absorbed by the light-absorbing coating 2334 on the mold 2300, thus, by heating the mold 2300 to release ice cubes 2315 from the mold 2300. Also during step 2333 of the procedure 2330 ice cubes 2315 can be removed from the mold 2300 due to gravity and using a rail 2303 to facilitate extraction. Procedure 2330 can provide rapid heating of the interface between the ice and the mold.

In FIG. 23D shows an ice making procedure 2340. The following describes the procedure 2340. During step 2341 of the procedure 2340, the water in the mold 2300 is frozen when the upper surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2341 can last about 30 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2341 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. During step 2342 of procedure 2330, the mold 2300 is rotated, for example, 180 degrees so that the top surface 2317 of the ice cubes 2315 faces down. In step 2343 of procedure 2340, a weakly bonding coating 2344 on mold 2300 in combination with gravity allows ice cubes 2315 to be released from mold 2300. Also, during step 2343 of procedure 2340, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from mold 2300 due to gravity and using Reiki 2303 to facilitate extraction. When using a weakly binding coating 2344, the need for heating the interface between the ice and the mold can be reduced or eliminated.

In FIG. 23E shows an ice making procedure 2350. The following describes the procedure 2350. During step 2351 of the procedure 2350, the water in the mold 2300 is frozen when the upper surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2331 can last about 30 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2351 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. Extractors 2355 may be placed in the water intended for freezing to form ice cubes. During step 2352 of procedure 2350, mold 2300 can be heated using heating refrigerant 2314 that passes through channels 2304, thereby allowing ice cubes 2315 to be released from mold 2300. During step 2353 of procedure 2350, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from mold 2300 by lifting extractors 2355, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 23E, and / or lowering the mold 2300 from extractors 2355 (not shown by arrow). Extractors 2355 can be on extractor rail 2356. During step 2353, removing ice cubes 2315 from mold 2300 can be facilitated by passing heating agent 2314 through channels 2304. During step 2354 of procedure 2350, ice cubes 2315 can be released from extractors 2355 by heating the extractors 2355.

In FIG. 23F shows an ice making procedure 2360. Procedure 2360 is described below. During step 2361 of procedure 2360, water in mold 2300 is frozen when the upper surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2361 can last about 30 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2361 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. Prior to freezing, extractors 2355 can be placed in freezing water to form ice cubes. During step 2362 of procedure 2360, rapid heating of the interface between the ice and the mold can be achieved using a thin film-shaped electric heater 2306, thereby allowing ice cubes 2315 to be released from the mold 2300. A thin electric heater 2306 can surround or lie on each interface between ice and shape. In step 2363 of procedure 2360, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from mold 2300 by lifting extractors 2355, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 23F, and / or lowering the mold 2300 from extractors 2355 (not shown by arrow). Extractors 2355 may be located on extractor rail 2356. During step 2364 of procedure 2360, ice cubes 2315 may be released from extractors 2355 by heating extractors 2355.

In FIG. 23G shows an ice making procedure 2370. The following describes procedure 2370. During step 2371 of procedure 2370, the water in the mold 2300 is frozen when the upper surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2371 can last about 30 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2371 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Channels 2304 can be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as form 1602 described above. Prior to freezing, extractors 2355 can be placed in freezing water to form ice cubes. During step 2372 of procedure 2370, rapid heating of the interface between the ice and the mold can be achieved using a light source 2335. The light emitted from the light source 2335 can be absorbed by the light-absorbing coating 2334, thereby allowing ice cubes 2315 to be released from the mold 2300. During step 2373 of the procedure 2370, the ice cubes 2315 can be removed from the mold 2300 by lifting the extractors 2355, as shown by the arrow on FIG. 23G, and / or lowering the mold 2300 from extractors 2355 (not shown by the arrow). Extractors 2355 may be located on extractor rail 2356. During step 2374 of procedure 2370, ice cubes 2315 may be released from extractors 2355 by heating extractors 2355.

In FIG. 23H shows an ice making procedure 2380. The following describes the procedure 2380. During step 2381 of the procedure 2380, water in the form of 2300 is frozen when the upper surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2381 can last about 30 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2381 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. Prior to freezing, extractors 2355 can be placed in freezing water to form ice cubes. In step 2382 of procedure 2380, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from mold 2300 by lifting extractors 2355, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 23H, and / or lowering the mold 2300 from the extractors 2355 (not shown by the arrow). Extractors 2355 can be located on extractor rail 2356. Removing ice cubes 2315 from mold 2300 can be facilitated by using a weakly bonding coating 2344. A weakly bonding coating 2344 on a mold 2300, as shown in FIG. 23H, in combination with moving the extractors 2355 from the mold 2300, allows the ice cubes 2315 to free themselves from the mold 2300. By using a weakly bonding coating 2344, the need to heat the interface between the ice and the mold can be reduced or eliminated. During step 2383 of procedure 2380, ice cubes 2315 can be freed from extractors 2355 by heating the extractors 2355.

In FIG. 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, and 24E show views of various ice preparation procedures, each of which can be used to prepare a plurality of ice cubes.

In FIG. 24A shows an ice making procedure 2410. Procedure 2410 is described below. During step 2411 of procedure 2410, water in mold 2300 is frozen when the top surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2411 may last approximately 17 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2411 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Mold 2300 may include a first set of channels 2408 from channels 2304 below the base of the ice cubes to be formed. A second set of channels 2409 from channels 2304 may also be located above the upper surface of the ice cubes to be formed. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or same shape as that of form 1602 described above. During step 2412 of procedure 2410, the mold 2300 rotates, for example, rotates 180 degrees so that the top surface of the ice cubes is facing down. Before or after rotation during step 2412, the second set of channels 2409 may be removed from the ice cubes 2315. As shown in step 2412, removing the plate 2419 containing the second set of channels 2409 from the ice cubes 2315 can be facilitated by passing the heating agent 2314 through the channels 2304 of the second set of channels 2409. In step 2412, the heating agent 2314, also called hot refrigerant, can be used to heat mold 2300 to release ice cubes 2315 from mold 2300. The heating agent may pass through channels 2304 of a first set of 2408 channels. The passage of the heating agent through the channels 2304 of the first set 2408 from the channels can occur during or shortly after the rotation of the mold 2300. During step 2413 of the procedure 2410, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from the mold 2300 due to gravity and using a rail 2303 to facilitate removal. In step 2413, the removal of ice cubes 2315 from the mold 2300 can be facilitated by the passage of the heating agent 2314 through the channels 2304 of the first set of channels 2408.

In FIG. 24B shows an ice making procedure 2420. Procedure 2420 is described below. During step 2421 of procedure 2420, water in the form of 2300 is frozen when the top surface of the ice cubes being formed is facing up. This freezing during step 2421 can last about 17 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2421 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Mold 2300 may include a first set of channels 2408 from channels 2304 located under the base of the ice cubes to be formed. A second set of channels 2409 from channels 2304 may also be located above the upper surface of the formed ice cubes. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. During step 2422 of procedure 2420, the mold 2300 rotates, for example, rotates 180 degrees so that the top surface of the ice cubes is facing down. Before or after rotation during step 2422, a second set of channels 2409 may be removed from ice cubes 2315. As shown in step 2422, removing the second set of channels 2409 from ice cubes 2315 can be facilitated by using part 2307 of thin electric heater 2306. During step 2422, thin electric heater 2306 can be used to heat mold 2300 to release ice cubes 2315 from mold 2300. Thin an electric heater 2306 may surround or be on each interface between the ice and the mold. Alternatively, or in addition to heating during step 2422, a heater 2306 can be used during step 2423 of procedure 2420 to release ice cubes 2315 from mold 2300. During step 2423, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from mold 2300 due to gravity and help reiki 2303 to facilitate extraction. Procedure 2420 can provide rapid heating of the interface between the ice and the mold.

In FIG. 24C shows an ice making procedure 2430. Procedure 2430 is described below. During step 2431 of procedure 2430, water in the form of 2300 is frozen when the top surface of the ice cubes being formed faces up. This freezing during step 2431 can last about 17 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2431 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Mold 2300 may include a first set of channels 2408 from channels 2304 located under the base of the formed ice cubes. A second set of channels 2409 from channels 2304 may also be located above the upper surface of the formed ice cubes. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. During step 2432 of procedure 2430, the mold 2300 rotates, for example, rotates 180 degrees so that the upper surface 2317 of the ice cubes 2315 faces down. Before or after rotation during step 2432, the second set of channels 2409 may be removed from the ice cubes 2315. In step 2432 of procedure 2430, a weakly bonding coating 2344 on mold 2300 in combination with gravity allows ice cubes to be released from mold 2300. During step 2433 of procedure 2430, removing ice cubes 2315 from mold 2300 can be facilitated by heating mold 2300, thus reducing ice cubes harvesting time. In step 2433, a heating agent 2314, also called a hot refrigerant, can be used to heat the mold 2300, allowing ice cubes to be released from the mold 2300. The heating agent 2314 can pass through channels 2304 of the first set of channels 2408.

In FIG. 24D illustrates an ice preparation procedure 2440. Procedure 2440 is described below. During step 2441 of procedure 2440, water in mold 2300 is frozen when the upper surface of the ice cubes being formed faces up. This freezing during step 2441 can last about 17 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2441 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Mold 2300 may include a first set of channels 2408 from channels 2304 located under the base of the ice cubes being formed. A second set of channels 2409 from channels 2304 may also be located above the upper surface of the formed ice cubes. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. During step 2442 of procedure 2440, the mold 2300 rotates, for example, rotates 180 degrees so that the upper surfaces 2317 of the ice cubes 2315 face down. Before or after rotation during step 2442, a second set of channels 2409 may be removed from the ice cubes 2315. During step 2443 of procedure 2440, a thin electric heater 2306 may be used to heat the mold 2300 to release ice cubes from the mold 2300. The thin electric heater 2306 may surround or be on each interface between the ice and the mold. Also, during step 2443 of procedure 2440, ice cubes can be removed from mold 2300 due to gravity. Removing ice cubes can also be facilitated by using a recovery aid rail (not shown in FIG. 24D), such as extraction assist rail 2303 described above. Procedure 2440 can provide rapid heating of the interface between the ice and the mold.

In FIG. 24E shows an ice making procedure 2450. Procedure 2450 is described below. During step 2451 of procedure 2450, water in the form of 2300 is frozen when the top surface of the formed ice cubes is facing up. This freezing during step 2451 can last about 17 seconds. Freezing water to form ice cubes during step 2451 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. Mold 2300 may include a first set of channels 2408 from channels 2304 located under the base of the ice cubes being formed. A second set of channels 2409 from channels 2304 may also be located above the upper surface of the formed ice cubes. Channels 2304 may be similar or similar to channels 204 described above with respect to FIG. 2, or channel 409 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Form 2300 may have a similar or the same shape as that of form 1602 described above. During step 2452 of procedure 2450, mold 2300 rotates, for example, rotates 180 degrees so that the upper surfaces 2317 of ice cubes 2315 face down. Before or after rotation during step 2452, the second set of channels 2409 may be removed from the ice cubes 2315. Removing the second set of channels 2409 can be facilitated by using a weakly bonding coating 2344 on the interface between the ice and the mold on the upper surfaces of the 2317 ice cubes and the second set of channels 2409. During step 2453 of procedure 2450, a weakly bonding coating 2344 on the mold 2300 in combination with strength Gravity allows ice cubes 2315 to be released from mold 2300. Also during step 2453 of procedure 2450, ice cubes 2315 can be removed from mold 2300 due to gravity and using a rail 2303 to facilitate removal. When using a weakly bonding coating 2444 in procedure 2450, the need to heat the interface between the ice and the mold can be reduced or eliminated.

In FIG. 25 shows a 2500 ice-making procedure. The procedure 2500 is described below. Two backward facing forms 2502 and 2504 can be used. Each Form 2502 and 2504 can contain 45 cubic shapes. Forms 2502 and 2504 may be similar or similar to forms 1602 and 1604 described above. The molding apparatus 1600 described above may contain molds 2502 and 2504. The molding apparatus 1600 may be used to perform the 2500 procedure. Each of molds 2502 and 2504 may be used to produce 45 ice cubes every 40 seconds, which corresponds to 1.4 pounds of ice cubes per a minute. Molds 2502 and 2504 in combination provide an 80-second cycle for producing ice cubes, which includes freezing and removing 90 ice cubes from molds 2502 and 2504 in total.

In step 2511 of procedure 2500, water is filled into cubic molds 2506 of mold 2502. In step 2511, cooling of mold 2502 can be achieved by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. During step 2511, heating of mold 2504 may begin to release ice cubes previously frozen in cubic forms 2508 of mold 2504. Heating of mold 2504 can occur by passing heating agent 2314 through channels 2305 of mold 2504. Step 2511 may take about 10 seconds.

After water fills the cubic molds 2506 of mold 2502 during step 2511, step 2512 may be performed. During step 2512, cooling of mold 2502 can be continued by continuing to pass refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304, thereby starting to freeze the water in cubic molds 2506. During step 2512, heating of mold 2504 can continue by continuing to pass heating agent 2314 through channels 2305 of mold 2504. Heating mold 2504 in combination with the use of gravity and rail 2303 to facilitate removal for knockout When ice cubes are pushed or ejected from cubic molds 2506, ice cubes 2550 are removed from mold 2504 during step 2512. Step 2512 may take about 20 seconds.

In step 2513, cooling of mold 2502 can continue by continuing to pass refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304, thereby continuing to freeze water in cubic molds 2506. In step 2513, cooling of mold 2504 can begin by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2305. Step 2513 may take about 10 seconds.

During step 2514, molds 2502 and 2504 are rotated 180 degrees so that mold 2502 and corresponding channels 2304 take the place of mold 2504 and the corresponding channels 2305. Procedure 2500 can be repeated starting from cubic mold 2508 of mold 2504 filled with water instead of cubic mold 2506 mold 2502 according to step 2511, and start heating mold 2502 (to release ice cubes previously frozen in cubic molds 2506 mold 2502 during step 2513), for example, by heating mold 2502 by passing heating agent 2314 through the channels 2304.

In FIG. 26 shows an ice making procedure 2600. Procedure 2600 is described below. Two forms 2602 and 2604 can be applied. Each of forms 2602 and 2604 can contain 45 cubic forms. Forms 2602 and 2604 may be similar or similar to forms 1602 and 1604 described above. The molding apparatus 1600 described above may comprise molds 2602 and 2604. The molding apparatus 1600 may be used to perform a procedure 2600. Each of molds 2602 and 2604 may be used to produce 45 ice cubes every 40 seconds, corresponding to 1.4 pounds of ice cubes per a minute. Forms 2602 and 2604 in combination provide an 80-second cycle for producing ice cubes, which includes freezing and removing 90 ice cubes from molds 2602 and 2604 in total.

During step 2611 of procedure 2600, water fills cubic forms 2606 of form 2602. Water can be filled using needles 2620 to fill with water. The cooling of mold 2602 can also occur during step 2611. During step 2611, cooling of mold 2602 can also be accomplished by passing refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304. During step 2611, mold 2604 can be heated to release ice cubes 2640 previously formed in mold 2604. For example, this heating may be performed as shown in step 2611 of FIG. 26 by passing heating agent 2314 through channels 2304 of mold 2604 or by using a thin-film electric heater, such as a thin-film electric heater 2306, described in connection with FIG. 23B, FIG. 24B and 24D, or when using the light-absorbing coating 2332 and the light source 2335, as described in connection with FIG. 23C and 23G.

In step 2612, cooling of mold 2602 continues to freeze water in mold 2602. During step 2612, extractor rail 2656 can be removed from mold 2604, thereby removing water needles 2630 and ice cubes 2640 from mold 2604. Removing ice cubes 2640 from mold 2604 can be facilitated by continuing to heat mold 2604 by heating the interface between ice and mold.

During step 2613, cooling of the mold 2602 continues to freeze water in the mold 2602. During step 2613, the extractor bar 2656 can be moved to the ice cube remover 2650. The ice cube remover 2650 may be a rod or a lath. When the ice cubes 2640 come into contact with the ice cubes remover 2650, the ice cubes remover 2650 breaks or repels the ice cubes 2640 from the needles 2630 to fill with water. In step 2613, refrigerant 2302 may begin to flow through channels 2304 of mold 2604 to begin cooling mold 2604.

Step 2614 is a mirror image of step 2611. During step 2614, the extractor rail 2656 returns to mold 2604, and needles 2630 for filling with water begin to fill mold 2604 with water. In step 2614, mold 2602 may be heated to release ice cubes 2660 previously formed in mold 2602. Heating mold 2602 in step 2614 may be similar to heating mold 2604, as described above in connection with step 2611. As shown in FIG. 26, during step 2614, the heating agent 2314 passes through channels 2304 of mold 2602 to release ice cubes 2660 from mold 2602. During step 2614, refrigerant 2302 can continue to flow through ducts 2304 of mold 2604 to cool mold 2604. Freezing water in mold 2604 may start at step 2614.

Step 2615 is a mirror image of step 2612. During step 2615, the passage of refrigerant 2302 through channels 2304 continues, thus continuing to cool mold 2604 and freeze water in mold 2604. During step 2615, extractor rail 2658 is removed from mold 2602, thereby moving water filling needles 2620 connected to the extractor rail 2568 and ice cubes 2660 from the mold 2602. Moving the ice cubes 2660 from the mold 2602 can be facilitated by continuing to heat the mold 2602, thus by heating the surface once matters between ice and form.

In step 2616, heating the mold 2604 may begin to heat the interface between the ice and the mold. At step 2616, the extractor bar 2658 can move to the ice cube remover 2652. The ice cube remover 2652 may be a rod or a lath. When the ice cubes 2660 come into contact with the ice cubes remover 2652, the ice cubes remover 2652 breaks or repels the ice cubes 2660 from the needles 2620 to fill with water. In step 2616, refrigerant 2302 may begin to flow through channels 2304 of mold 2602 to begin cooling mold 2602.

Each mold 2602 and 2604 can have an 80 second production cycle of ice cubes according to procedure 2600.

In FIG. 27A, 27B and 27C show views of a water filling system 2700 according to at least one aspect of the invention. In FIG. 27A is a side view, in FIG. 27B is a bottom view and FIG. 27C is a front view of a water filling system 2700. The water filling system 2700 comprises needles 2702 for filling with water, water inlets 2704 and a chamber 2706. Water enters through water inlets 2704 and enters the chamber 2706. Water exits the chamber 2706 through needles 2702 for filling with water. Needles 2702 may be similar to needles 2620 and 2630 described above.

In FIG. 28A, 28B, 28C, and 28D show views of an ice maker 2800. The ice maker may include a water filling system 2700 and water filling needles 2702. As shown in FIG. 28A, water may fill mold 2802 and be frozen using a refrigerant (not shown). After the water has been frozen, the water filling system 2700, including water filling needles 2702, can be removed from mold 2802, as shown in FIG. 28B, thereby removing ice cubes 2830 that are attached to the needles 2702. The water filling system 2700 can be held on the lever 2804. The lever 2804 can be held by the base 2820. The lever 2804 can be rotated or tilted up and away from the mold 2802, as shown in FIG. 28B, while the lever 2804 holds the water filling system 2700 and ice cubes that are attached to the needles 2702. An electric motor 2816 can provide power to turn the lever 2804. Those skilled in the art will understand that according to the invention, the 2816 engine can be any suitable engine including but not limited to a hydraulic motor. The lever 2804 can rotate on a hinge 2818 on the base 2820.

The water filling system 2700 can move along the lever 2804 to the ice cube remover 2806, as shown in FIG. 28C. When the ice cubes 2830 attached to the needles 2702 come into contact with the ice cubes removal means 2806, the ice cubes break off or repel from the needles 2702 and fall into the ice accumulator 2808, as shown in FIG. 28C and FIG. 28D. Water filling system 2700 may include an extractor rail, for example, an extractor rail 2656 or 2658 described above. Alternatively, the extractor rail 2656 or 2658 may comprise a water filling system, for example, a water filling system 2700. The ice cube remover 2806 may be similar or similar to the ice cube remover 2650 or 2652 described above.

Water filling system 2700 may be coupled to extension 2810. Extension 2810 may be configured to extend from and retract from housing 2812. The electric motor 2814 may be configured to provide power to move the distal end 2822 of the extension 2810 from the housing 2812, thereby moving the water filling system 2700 to the ice cube remover 2806. After the ice cubes 2830 have been removed from the needles 2720 by the ice cubes removal tool 2806, the motor 2814 can provide power to move the distal end 2822 of the extension 2810 back to the housing 2812, thereby moving the water filling system 2700 back to mold 2802. After that as the water filling system 2700 moves along the lever 2804 to the mold 2802, the lever 2804 can be rotated or tilted downward (driven by an electric motor 2816) so that the lever 2804 is perpendicular to the base 2824, after which the filling system 2700 oh 2802 can fill the mold with water, and the routine production of ice cubes and extracting the ice cubes can be repeated. Those skilled in the art will understand that, according to the invention, engine 2814 may be any suitable engine, including but not limited to a hydraulic motor.

In FIG. 29A-29I further show an ice pack according to the apparatus shown in FIG. 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D. In FIG. 29A, 29D and 29G show side views, in FIG. 29B, 29E and 29H show perspective views from below, and in FIG. 29C, 29F, and 29I show front views of a water fill system 2700, a lever 2804, and ice cube remover 2806. To illustrate, these figures show two rows of 2830 ice cubes for a total of ten (10) 2830 ice cubes, although the water filling system has 45 needles to fill with water in forms 9-5. The ice cube remover 2806 may include channels 2912. The channels 2912 may be configured to allow needles 2702 to enter and move through the channels 2912. The ice cube remover 2806 may be attached to the levers 2902 and 2904. The ice cube remover 2806 may have racks 2914, which extend downward from the loops 2908 of the levers 2902 and 2904. The ice cube remover 2806 may be a grill 2916 that is inclined downward at an angle from the racks 2914. The grill 2916 may form channels 2912.

As shown in FIG. 29A-29I, the water filling system 2700 also includes an extractor rail 2656 and needles 2702. In the shown embodiment, the lever 2804 comprises a first lever 2902 and a second lever 2904. Each lever 2902 and 2904 may have a hinge hole 2906 and an elongated loop 2908. Hinge holes 2906 can be configured to receive pivot axis 2818. The rollers 2910 can be configured to rotate and extend along the elongated loop 2908 of each lever 2902 and 2904. The rollers 2910 can rotate when the water filling system 2700 moves along the lever 2804, that is, each lever 2902 and lever 2904.

As shown in FIG. 29A-29I, ice cubes 2830 may be moved relative to ice cubes 2806 until they are beaten off or repelled from needles 2702 by ice cubes 2806.

The device shown and described above in connection with FIG. 27A-27C, FIG. 28A-28D and FIG. 29A-29I may be used during a 30 second ice-making operation.

The following is a description of a device that can be used during an ice-making operation, which can last less than 30 seconds. More specifically, the apparatus described below in connection with FIG. 30-32L can be used during an ice-making operation, which takes approximately 17 seconds.

In FIG. 30 is a side view of a water filling system 3000. The water filling system 3000 may include a water filling tank 3002, a refrigerated lid 3004, and insulated water channels 3006. In FIG. 30 also shows a mold 3008 for ice cubes. The ice cube mold 3008 may be similar or similar to the 1602 or 2802 mold described above. Water can flow out of the water tank 3002 through insulated water channels 3006 that are cooled by a chilled lid 3004, thereby cooling the water. Water can flow out of the isolated water channels 3006 through nozzles 3014 to fill with water into an ice cube mold 3008. Refrigerant 3010 may pass through cooling channels 3012. The cooling channels 3012 may be perpendicular to the insulated water channels 3006. Water may further be cooled in an ice cube mold 3008 until the water turns into ice in an ice cube mold 3008.

In FIG. 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31D show an ice preparation device 3100. The ice preparation device 3100 may be similar to the ice preparation device 2800 described above. The ice maker 3100 may include a water filling system 3000, a hinged refrigerant supply line 3102, and ice cubes removing means 3104. In other respects, the ice maker 3100 may be similar or similar to the ice maker 2800. As indicated above, form 3008 may be similar or similar to form 1602 or 2802 described above. For illustration, ice cubes 3106 are shown only in FIG. 31A and FIG. 31D.

As shown in FIG. 30, the mold 3008 can be filled with water, and it can be frozen in the mold 3008. After the water is frozen in the mold 3008, the interface between the ice and the mold can be weakened by the heat applied to the mold 3008 in accordance with the heating or heating described above molds, or the interface between the ice and the mold can be weakened due to the weakly bonding coating on the mold 3008. As soon as the interface between the ice and the mold becomes sufficiently weakened, a water filling system 3000 including 3014 nozzle for filling with water, can be removed from the mold 3008, as shown in FIG. 31A, thus separating ice cubes 3106 that are attached to nozzles 3014 to fill with water. The water filling system 3000 can be held on the lever 2804. The lever 2804 can be held by the base 2820. The lever 2804 can be rotated or tilted up and away from the mold 3008, as shown in FIG. 31A, taking with it a water filling system 3000 and ice cubes 3106 attached to nozzles 3014 for filling with water. An electric motor 2816 can provide power for turning the lever 2804. Those skilled in the art will understand that according to the invention, the motor 2816 can be any suitable motor, including but not limited to a hydraulic motor. The lever 2804 can rotate on a hinge 2818 on the base 2820.

The water filling system 300 can be moved along the lever 2804 to the ice cube remover 3104, as shown in FIG. 31B. When the ice cubes 3106 attached to the nozzles 3014 come into contact with the ice cube extractor 3104, the ice cubes 3106 break off or push away from the nozzles 3014 and fall into an ice storage device, such as an ice hopper 2808, as shown in FIG. 28C and FIG. 28D. The water filling system 300 may include an extractor rail, for example, an extractor rail 2656 or 2658 described above. Alternatively, the extractor rail 2656 or 2658 may comprise a water filling system, for example, a water filling system 300. The ice cube remover 3104 may be similar or similar to the ice cube remover 2650 or 2652 described above.

The water filling system 3000 can be connected to an extension 2810. The extension 2810 can be configured to extend from and be pulled into the housing 2812. The electric motor 2814 may be configured to provide power to move the distal end 2822 of the extension 2810 of the housing 2812, thereby moving the water filling system 3000 to the ice cube remover 3104. After the ice cubes 3106 are removed from the nozzles 3014 by the ice cubes removal means 3104, the electric motor 2814 can provide power to move the distal end 2822 of the extension 2810 back to the housing 2812, thereby returning the water filling system 3000 to form 3008. After as the water filling system 3000 moves along the lever 2804 to the mold 3008, the lever 2804 can be rotated or tilted downward (driven by an electric motor 2816) so that the lever 2804 is perpendicular to the base 2824, after which the filling system 3000 water can fill mold 3008 with water, and the procedure for producing ice cubes and extracting ice cubes can be repeated. Those skilled in the art will understand that, according to the invention, engine 2814 may be any suitable engine, including but not limited to a hydraulic motor.

In FIG. 32A-32L further show an ice pack according to the apparatus shown in FIG. 31A, 31B, 31C and 31D. In FIG. 32A, 32D, 32G and 32J show side views, in FIG. 32B, 32E, 32H and 32K show perspective views from below, and in FIG. 32C, 32F, 32I, and 32L show front views of a water fill system 3000, a lever 2804, and ice cube remover 3104. As shown in this embodiment, five rows of ice cubes 3106 with nine ice cubes in each row have a total of forty-five (45) ice cubes (in 9 × 5 molds) for preparation. Ice cube remover 3104 may include rods 3200 for removing ice cubes. Ice cube remover 3104 may be attached to levers 2902 and 2904. Ice cube remover 3104 may have brackets 3202 that can be configured to rotate around hinges 3204, thereby raising or lowering ice cores 3200, as needed.

In FIG. 32A-32C show the position of the ice cubes 3106 relative to the brackets 3202 before the ice cubes 3106 are moved along the levers 2902 and 2904 to the brackets 3203. FIG. 32D-32F shows the position of the ice cubes after the ice cubes have passed along the levers 2902 and 2904 so that they hover over the rods 3200 to remove ice cubes. In FIG. 32G-32H shows the position of the rods 3200 to remove ice cubes after they are rotated into the spaces between the ice cubes 3106. In FIG. 32J-32K show that when the ice cubes 3200 rotate further around the hinges 3204, the bars 3200 knock or push the ice cubes 3106 away from the nozzles 3014. At the same time, or in an alternative embodiment, after the bars 3200 are turned into spaces between the ice cubes 3106, the water filling system 300 can move further along the lever 2804 until they are deflected or repelled from the nozzles 3014 by the rods 3200.

According to an object of the invention, an ice maker is obtained. The ice maker may comprise a mold, the mold forming a first volume for an ice cube, the mold comprising a bottom surface having an inner perimeter and side surfaces. Each side surface of the mold may have a corresponding inner perimeter, a corresponding upper edge and a corresponding lower edge. The corresponding upper edge of each side surface may be longer than the corresponding lower edge. Each side surface may extend inward from a corresponding upper edge to a corresponding lower edge. The shape may comprise a three-dimensional shape, wherein the three-dimensional shape is located in the first volume, and the three-dimensional shape contains the second volume. The second volume may be formed by the upper external perimeter, the lower external perimeter and at least a protrusion of a three-dimensional shape. The protrusion may extend upward between the lower outer perimeter and the upper outer perimeter. The protrusion may narrow as it passes upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape. The mold may also form a third volume between the first volume and the second volume, wherein the mold is configured to receive water into the third volume. The device may comprise a cooling device configured to cool the water in a third volume sufficiently to freeze the water. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, according to the invention, any suitable cooling device can be used to freeze water in a mold. For example, a cooling device may comprise one or more channels configured to receive a refrigerant having a temperature sufficiently low so that when the refrigerant passes through one or more channels, heat transfer occurs between the water in the mold and the mold, such that the water in the mold it is frozen. A suitable cooling device may comprise an evaporator.

According to the object, the bottom surface and the side surfaces of the form are in the form of a parallelogram. According to an object, the ice maker may comprise an evaporator, wherein the evaporator is configured to supply refrigerant to the cooling device, while the refrigerant has a temperature sufficient to freeze water in a third volume. According to an object, the mold may comprise a mold body. A mold body may comprise a plurality of mold cells. According to the object, each cell of the form may contain an edge. Each rib can be connected to the mold body. According to the object, the form may contain many channels. Each channel can be configured to receive refrigerant and provide sufficient heat transfer from the water inside the mold cells to the mold cells and freeze the water inside the mold cells.

According to an object, a three-dimensional shape may comprise a substantially three-dimensional U-shape. According to an object, a three-dimensional shape may comprise a substantially three-dimensional truncated M-shape. According to an object, a three-dimensional shape may comprise a series of at least two three-dimensional L-shaped configurations. According to the object, at least two three-dimensional L-shaped forms can be a mirror image of each other. According to an object, a three-dimensional shape may also comprise a third three-dimensional shape. The third three-dimensional shape may be between at least two three-dimensional L-shaped configurations and connect them. According to the object, the protrusion may contain at least two ribs. According to the object, the protrusion may contain four side surfaces. According to the object, these four side surfaces can be in the form of parallelograms.

According to an aspect of the invention, an ice maker comprising a mold is obtained. The mold may include an upper part and a lower part. Each of the parts may contain a plurality of ice cube mold cells corresponding to a plurality of ice cube mold cells of another part. The form can be configured so that the first cell of the form of the lower part of the form and the corresponding second cell of the upper part of the form form a single cavity. A single cavity can form a volume for one ice cube. The first channel may be configured to fill the first mold cell and the corresponding second mold cell with water. The second channel may be configured to allow air to escape from a single cavity when the first mold cell and the second mold cell are filled with water. The plurality of channels can be configured to receive refrigerant and provide sufficient heat transfer from the water inside the mold cells to the mold cells and freeze the water inside the mold cells.

According to the object, on the surfaces by which the upper part mates with the lower part, there may be a sealing coating.

According to an object of the invention, an ice maker comprising a mold and a plate is obtained. The mold may be located above the plate. The mold may contain a plurality of ice cube mold cells, with each ice cube mold cell having a hole at the base of the cell and an air outlet channel at the top of the cell, allowing air to exit the ice cube mold cell when the plate is filled with water. Both the mold and the plate can contain many channels, each channel being configured to receive refrigerant and provide sufficient heat transfer from the water inside the ice cube mold cells to the ice cube cells and freeze the water inside the ice cube mold cells. Each ice cube mold cell may contain a corresponding channel allowing air to escape from the ice cube mold cell when the plate is filled with water.

According to the object, the ice cube mold cells may have the shape of a truncated pyramid.

According to an object of the invention, a method for producing a plurality of ice cubes is obtained. The method may include placing the mold on top of the plate. The mold may contain many cells, with each cell having an opening in the base of the cell and a channel for discharging air at the top of the cell. The method may comprise filling each of the plurality of cells by filling the plate with water and transferring heat from water within the plurality of cells to the mold cells, and freezing the water within the cells.

According to the object and the above method, at least one ice cube may have the shape of a truncated pyramid.

According to an object, each of the plurality of ice cubes may comprise a wall having a thickness sufficient to provide mechanical strength to the ice cube and an internal volume that is not completely frozen.

According to an object, the wall thickness of each of the plurality of ice cubes may be in the range of about 2-3 mm.

According to an aspect of the invention, an ice maker comprising a mold is obtained, wherein the mold may comprise a plurality of cells. Each cell may have a hole at the top of each cell. The mold may contain a plurality of refrigerant channels and an upper portion. The upper part can be hermetically sealed with a cover. The upper part may comprise a vacuum chamber. A vacuum pump may be used, with the vacuum pump configured to pump out moist air from the mold. A tube may be used which extends from the mold vacuum chamber to the vacuum pump. When the pressure in the vacuum chamber begins to decrease, dissolved gases begin to escape from most of the water in each cell. The vacuum pump can be configured to pump out humid air from the mold so that the pressure in the vacuum chamber is reduced to below 61.5 Pa ((0.18 inches of mercury) at 32 ° F).

According to an object of the invention, an ice cube is obtained. The ice cube may comprise an upper surface having an external perimeter, a lower surface having an external perimeter, and side surfaces. Each side surface may include a corresponding outer perimeter, a corresponding upper edge and a corresponding lower edge, wherein the corresponding upper edge of each side surface is longer than the corresponding lower edge, with each side surface extending inward from the corresponding upper edge to the corresponding lower edge. The upper surface, lower surface and side surfaces may form a first volume. In an embodiment of the invention, a three-dimensional shape may be used, wherein the three-dimensional shape is in the first volume. The three-dimensional form may contain a second volume. The second volume may be formed by the upper external perimeter, lower external perimeter and at least a protrusion. The protrusion may extend upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape. The protrusion may narrow as it passes upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape. An ice cube may also form a third volume between the first volume and the second volume, wherein the third volume contains ice and the second volume contains unfrozen liquid or air or a combination of unfrozen liquid and air.

According to an aspect of the invention, an increase in the rate of ice production can be achieved. An increase in the rate of ice production can be achieved by increasing the surface area of the ice cube. For example, by increasing the surface area of the ice cube, a freezing time of approximately 40-50 seconds and an approximately 90 second complete ice production cycle relative to 10-15 minute ice production cycles according to the conventional method and apparatus can be achieved.

A 90-second ice production cycle can be thought of as a capacity of about 1.4 pounds per minute on demand, that fits well in the footprint, for example, about 22 feet by 30 feet, and power limits (for example, less than about 5.5 kW) if the mold is enlarged from a typical 45 cubes in a mold to 50 cubes in a mold.

The mold can be configured to provide mechanical strength and sealability under conditions where temperature changes of many degrees Fahrenheit (e.g., hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit) can occur in a few seconds and over a wide range in millimeters, i.e. with extremely high temperature gradients.

According to the object, ice storage can be provided, according to which the location of each ice cube can be adjusted. According to an object, the ice-making apparatus can provide improved ice dispensing, wherein each ice cube or a predetermined ice cube can be individually delivered to a predetermined location. According to the object, an ice-making device can be obtained which reduces or eliminates the need for ice mixing in the hopper.

According to an object, a deaeration device and method can be used that allows the production and extraction of transparent or relatively transparent ice cubes.

According to the object, a device is obtained comprising a switchgear, the switchgear comprising an input, an output, a pallet and a distribution housing. The input may be configured to receive a refrigerant having a predetermined first temperature. The distribution enclosure may be configured to receive refrigerant from the inlet. The distribution housing may be configured to distribute refrigerant into the pallet at predetermined locations of the pallet and provide substantially uniform cooling of the plurality of forms communicating with the refrigerant for heat transfer when the refrigerant flows through the pallet to the outlet. The outlet can be configured to receive refrigerant from the pallet, the refrigerant having a second temperature when exiting the pallet through the outlet, and the second refrigerant outlet temperature is different from the first refrigerant inlet temperature.

According to the object, the first refrigerant inlet temperature is lower than the second refrigerant outlet temperature. According to the object, the first refrigerant inlet temperature is sufficient to freeze water in a variety of forms in contact with the refrigerant. According to the object, the distribution housing has a length, width and height, each of which is less than the corresponding length, width and height of the pallet. The distribution housing may form openings for distributing refrigerant into the pallet at predetermined locations of the pallet.

According to an object, the distribution housing may comprise a first end, a second end, a first side surface and a second side surface. The second side surface may be opposite the first side surface, and the lower surface is opposite the upper surface, the first end being in fluid communication with the inlet and the second end closer to the exit than the first end. The distribution housing may comprise a first section, a second section and a third section, wherein the first section is between the inlet and the second section, and the second section is between the first section and the third section, with the third section containing the second end. The first section may form a first set of holes, the first set of holes containing at least one hole located in the first side surface, and at least one hole located in the second side surface. The second section may form a second set of holes, the second set of holes containing at least one hole located in the first side surface, and at least one hole located in the second side surface. The third section may form a third set of holes, the third set of holes containing at least one hole located in the first side surface, and at least one hole located in the second side surface.

The first set of holes contains two holes in the first side surface and two holes in the second side surface against two holes in the first side surface. The second set of holes may include a hole in the first side surface and a hole in the second side surface against the hole in the first side surface. The second set of holes may include a hole in the upper surface of the distribution housing. The third set of holes may contain three holes in the first side surface and three holes in the second side surface against three holes in the first side surface. The third set of holes may contain two holes in the upper surface of the distribution housing.

According to an object, the pallet may comprise an end that is in fluid communication with the outlet. The end of the pallet may contain many holes in fluid communication with the outlet. The end of the pan may comprise a funnel communicating fluidly with the outlet.

According to an object, the device may comprise a mold, wherein the mold contains a plurality of molds for ice cubes, the mold being configured to lie on the bottom surface of the pallet and communicated for heat transfer with refrigerant between the distribution housing and the end of the pallet.

According to an object, the inlet can be configured to receive a heating agent, the heating agent having a predetermined inlet temperature, and when the heating agent passes through a tray, the heating agent heats the interface between the ice and the shape between the ice cubes previously formed in the plurality forms. The heating agent may have an outlet temperature of the outlet, wherein the inlet temperature of the heating agent is higher than the outlet temperature of the heating agent.

According to an object, a device may be provided comprising a switchgear, the switchgear comprising an input, an output, a pallet and a distribution housing. The inlet may be configured to receive a heating agent having a predetermined inlet temperature. The distribution housing may be configured to receive a heating agent from the inlet, the distribution housing being configured to distribute the heating agent into the tray at predetermined locations of the tray and provide substantially equal heating of a plurality of forms communicating with the heating agent for heat transfer when the heating agent the agent passes through the pallet to the exit. The outlet may be configured to receive a heating agent from the pan, wherein the heating agent has an outlet temperature when exiting the pan through the outlet, and the temperature of the outlet of the heating agent at the outlet is different from the inlet temperature of the heating agent at the inlet.

According to the object, the temperature of the inlet of the heating agent at the inlet is higher than the temperature of the exhaust of the heating agent at the outlet. According to an object, the inlet temperature of the heating agent at the inlet is sufficient to heat the interface between the ice and the mold between the ice and the plurality of molds.

According to an object, a device is obtained comprising a first mold for ice cubes, wherein the first mold for ice cubes contains an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface of the first mold for ice cubes containing a first plurality of mold cells. The device may comprise a second mold for ice cubes, the second mold for ice cubes containing an upper surface and a lower surface, while the upper surface of the second mold for ice cubes contains a second plurality of mold cells (1608). The device may include a housing, and the housing has an axis that is parallel to the bottom surface of the first form for ice cubes and parallel to the bottom surface of the second form for ice cubes. The first ice cube mold may be in the housing with the top surface of the first ice cube mold facing up. The second ice cube mold may be in a housing with the upper surface of the second ice cube mold facing downward, with the lower surface of the first ice cube mold facing the lower surface of the second ice cube mold. The casing may be configured to rotate about an axis and rotate the first ice cube mold so that the upper surface of the first ice cube mold is facing down and rotate the second ice cube mold so that the upper surface of the second ice cube ice was turned up.

The device may include a shaft. The shaft may be configured to rotate the housing about an axis. The device may comprise a first node. The first assembly may comprise a first ice cube mold, a first upper lid and a first lower lid, wherein the first ice cube mold is held between the first upper lid and the first lower lid. The device may contain a second node. The second assembly may comprise a second ice cube mold, a second upper lid and a second lower lid, the second ice cube mold being held between the second upper lid and the second lower lid.

The device may comprise a first heat transfer device, the first heat transfer device being located between the first ice cube mold and the first lower lid; and a second heat transfer device, the second heat transfer device being located between the second ice cube mold and the second lower lid. The first heat transfer device may comprise a first set of cooling fins, and the second heat transfer device may comprise a second set of cooling fins. The first top cover may form a first opening of the top cover. The first opening of the top cover can be configured so that when the first top cover is located on top of the first ice cube mold, the first opening of the top cover allows you to fill with liquid many cells of the first ice cube mold when the first ice cube mold is in the upward position. The first opening of the top cover can be configured so that the first opening of the top cover allows the plurality of ice cubes formed in the cells of the first ice cube mold to fall out of the cells of the first ice cube mold when the first ice cube mold is in the downward position.

The device may comprise a refrigerant tube configured to supply a refrigerant in communication with the first ice cube mold for heat transfer and to freeze the liquid in the cells of the first ice cube mold when the first ice cube mold is in an upward position. The device may include a heating agent tube configured to supply a heating agent in communication with the first ice cube mold for heat transfer and heating the interface between the ice and the ice cube mold and the first ice cube molds when the first ice cube mold is in the inverse down position.

According to an object, a method is obtained comprising freezing liquid in a plurality of ice cube mold cells to form ice cubes when the ice cube mold is facing up. The method may comprise rotating the ice cube mold so that the ice cube mold is facing down. The method may include heating the ice cube mold to weaken the interface between the ice and the ice cube mold and the ice cube mold and allow the ice cubes to fall out of the ice cube mold. The method may include moving the rack to facilitate extraction relative to the ice cube mold to facilitate removal of the ice cubes from the ice cube mold. To freeze a liquid, the method may comprise cooling the liquid with a refrigerant in communication with the liquid for heat transfer. The method may include directing the refrigerant through multiple channels, with each channel corresponding to one of the cells of the form. Heating the ice cube mold may comprise heating the ice cube mold with a heating agent in communication with the ice cube mold for heat transfer. The method may comprise directing a heating agent through a plurality of channels, each channel corresponding to one of the shape cells. The heating of the ice cube mold may comprise heating the ice cube mold with a thin film electric heater, wherein the thin film electric heater is arranged around at least a portion of each mold cell. Heating the ice cube mold may include heating the ice cube mold using a light source and a light absorbing coating, wherein the light absorbing coating is placed around at least a portion of each mold cell and it absorbs light emitted by the light source.

Freezing the liquid may comprise cooling the liquid with a refrigerant in fluid communication with the liquid by directing the refrigerant through a plurality of channels, using a first set of channels under the mold cells and a second set of channels above the mold cells, with the channel passing over and below each corresponding mold cell . A second set of channels may be located inside the plate for heat transfer. The method may comprise, after freezing the liquid in the mold, heating the heat transfer plate to loosen the interface between the ice and the plate between the ice cubes in the mold and the plate. Heating the heat transfer plate may comprise directing a heating agent through a second set of channels. Heating the heat transfer plate may comprise heating the heat transfer plate with a thin film electric heater.

According to an object, the obtained method comprises freezing liquid in a plurality of ice cube mold cells to form ice cubes when the ice cube mold is facing up. The method may comprise rotating the ice cube mold so that the ice cube mold is facing down. The method may comprise applying a weakly bonding coating around at least a portion of the mold cells sufficient to allow the ice cubes, at least partially, to fall out of the ice cubes mold after the rotation step. The method may include moving the rack to facilitate extraction relative to the ice cube mold to facilitate removal of the ice cubes from the ice cube mold. The method may include cooling the liquid with a refrigerant communicating with the liquid for heat transfer by directing the refrigerant through a plurality of channels, using a first set of channels under the mold cells and a second set of channels above the mold cells, using a channel above and below each respective mold cell.

According to an object, a method is obtained comprising placing liquid in a plurality of ice cube mold cells, placing an extractor in a liquid in each of the mold cages, and freezing the liquid in each of the mold cages to form ice cubes when the ice cube mold is facing up. The method may comprise heating an ice cube mold to loosen the interface between the ice and the ice cube mold and the ice cube mold. The method may comprise moving each extractor from the ice cube mold, thereby removing an ice cube corresponding to each extractor from the ice cube mold. The method may include heating each extractor to weaken the interface between the ice and the mold between each ice cube and the corresponding extractor, to allow each ice cube to fall from the corresponding extractor.

Heating the ice cube mold may comprise heating the ice cube mold with a heating agent in communication with the ice cube mold for heat transfer. The method may comprise directing a heating agent through a plurality of channels, each channel corresponding to one of the shape cells. Heating the ice cube mold may comprise heating the ice cube mold with a thin film electric heater, wherein the thin film electric heater is arranged around at least a portion of each mold cell. The heating of the ice cube mold may comprise heating the ice cube mold with a light source and a light absorbing coating, wherein the light absorbing coating is arranged around at least a portion of each mold cell and it absorbs light emitted by the light source.

According to an object, a method is obtained comprising placing a liquid in a plurality of ice cube mold cells, placing an extractor in a liquid in each of the mold cages, freezing the liquid in each of the mold cages to form ice cubes when the ice cube mold is facing up, and applying weakly a binder coating around at least a portion of the mold cells sufficient to allow the ice cubes to be removed from the ice cubes when the extractors are moved away from the ice cubes. The method may comprise moving each extractor from the ice cube mold, thereby moving the ice cube corresponding to each extractor from the ice cube mold. The method may include heating each extractor to weaken the interface between the ice and the mold between each ice cube and the corresponding extractor, to allow each ice cube to fall from the corresponding extractor.

According to an object, a method is obtained comprising freezing liquid in a plurality of ice cube mold cells to form ice cubes when the ice cube mold is facing upward, wherein freezing the liquid further comprises cooling the liquid with a refrigerant communicating with the liquid for heat transfer by directing the refrigerant through the plurality channels, the first set of channels under the cells of the form and the second set of channels above the cells of the form are used, while the channel above and below each corresponding i cell shape, and the second set of channels is placed inside the plate for heat transfer. The method may comprise using a weakly bonding coating on the heat transfer plate sufficient to allow removal of the heat transfer plate from the ice cubes, leaving the ice cubes in the mold cells. The method may comprise applying a weakly bonding coating to at least a portion of the mold cells sufficient to allow the ice cubes to move at least partially from the ice cubes when the ice cubes rotate and the ice cubes face down . The method may include rotating the mold for ice cubes so that the mold for ice cubes is facing down and the first set of channels is located above the mold cells.

The method may include heating the interface between the ice and the mold between the ice cubes and the ice cubes, sufficient to allow the ice cubes to fall from the ice cubes when the ice cubes are rotated so that the ice cubes face down. The heating may comprise directing the heating agent through a first set of channels. The heating may comprise heating the ice cube mold with a thin film electric heater, wherein the thin film electric heater is located around at least a portion of each mold cell.

According to an object, a device is obtained, the device comprising a lever. The device may comprise an ice cube mold containing a plurality of ice cube mold cells, wherein the ice cube mold is configured to cool the liquid in the ice cube mold cells enough to form an ice cube in each ice cube mold cell. The device may include a water filling system. The water filling system can be configured to move along the lever. The water filling system may include dispensers for filling with water, with each dispenser for filling with water configured to distribute the liquid for freezing in the corresponding cell of the ice cube mold. Each dispenser for filling with water can be configured to move the ice cube formed in the corresponding cell of the ice cube mold from the corresponding cell of the ice cube mold when the water filling system moves away from the ice cube mold. The device may include means for removing ice cubes. The ice cube remover can be configured to push the ice cubes away from the dispensers for filling with water when the water filling system moves along the arm to the ice cube remover.

Dispensers for filling with water may contain needles for filling with water and / or needles. The water filling system may include a refrigerated lid. The cooled cap may be configured to surround a portion of each needle to fill with water and / or nozzles. The cooled lid may be configured to cool the water before being distributed to the ice cube mold cells.

The lever may be configured to tilt from a horizontal position to an inclined position from the ice cube mold.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the embodiments described above can be configured to be compatible with the requirements for soft drink systems and can include a wide range of soft drinks, including, but not limited to, beverages, known under any PepsiCo brand name, such as Pepsi-Cola® and custom-made drinks. Embodiments of the invention described herein offer service offer rates of at least the same or faster than conventional systems. Embodiments of the invention described herein may be configured so that they can be continuously monitored, including remote monitoring, with respect to operation and delivery levels. Embodiments of the invention described herein are economically viable and can be created with standard units that can be modified according to the objects of the invention described herein.

Those skilled in the art will understand that according to the invention, any of the features and / or options in one embodiment of the invention or example can be combined with any of the features and / or options of another embodiment of the invention or example.

The description given here was given and illustrated with reference to the figures, but it should be understood that the features of the description can be modified by alternative options, changes or replacements without substantially deviating from the essence of the description. For example, the size, quantity and shape of the various components can be modified to adapt to specific applications. Accordingly, specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein for illustrative purposes only, and the description is not limited to anything other than the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (15)

1. An ice machine containing:
an ice cube mold, the mold comprising:
the first volume formed by the form;
a lower surface having an inner perimeter;
side surfaces, each side surface having a corresponding inner perimeter, a corresponding upper edge and a corresponding lower edge, wherein the corresponding upper edge of each side surface is longer than the corresponding lower edge, with each side surface extending inward from the corresponding upper edge to the corresponding lower edge ; and
a three-dimensional shape, the three-dimensional shape being located in the first volume, the three-dimensional shape containing the second volume, the second volume being formed by the upper outer perimeter, the lower outer perimeter and at least the protrusion of the three-dimensional shape, the protrusion extending upward between the lower outer perimeter and the upper external perimeter, and the protrusion narrows as it passes upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape;
the form further forms a third volume between the first volume and the second volume, the form being configured to receive water into the third volume; and
a cooling device configured to cool water in a third volume sufficiently to freeze water. 2. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface and side surfaces of the mold contain parallelograms. 3. An ice maker according to claim 1, further comprising an evaporator, the evaporator configured to supply refrigerant to a cooling device, wherein the refrigerant has a temperature sufficient to freeze water in a third volume. 4. An ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the mold comprises a mold body, wherein the mold housing contains a plurality of mold cells. 5. The ice maker according to claim 4, in which each cell of the form contains a rib, and each rib is connected to the body of the form. 6. The ice maker according to claim 5, wherein the mold contains a plurality of channels, each channel being configured to receive refrigerant and provide sufficient heat transfer from the water inside the mold cells to the mold cells and freeze the water inside the mold cells. 7. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional shape comprises a substantially three-dimensional U-shape. 8. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional shape contains a substantially three-dimensional truncated M-shaped. 9. The ice maker according to claim 1, in which the three-dimensional shape contains a group of at least two three-dimensional L-shaped configurations. 10. The ice machine according to claim 9, in which at least two three-dimensional L-shaped forms are mirror images of each other. 11. The ice machine according to claim 10, in which the three-dimensional form also contains a third three-dimensional form, and the third three-dimensional form is located between at least two three-dimensional L-shaped forms and connects them. 12. The ice maker according to claim 1, in which the protrusion contains at least two ribs. 13. The ice maker according to claim 1, in which the protrusion contains four side surfaces. 14. The ice maker of claim 13, wherein the four side surfaces are in the shape of a parallelogram. 15. A mold for ice cubes, wherein the mold contains:
the first volume formed by the form;
a lower surface having an inner perimeter;
side surfaces, each side surface having a corresponding inner perimeter, a corresponding upper edge and a corresponding lower edge, wherein the corresponding upper edge of each side surface is longer than the corresponding lower edge, with each side surface extending inward from the corresponding upper edge to the corresponding lower edge ; and
a three-dimensional shape, the three-dimensional shape being located in the first volume, the three-dimensional shape containing the second volume, the second volume being formed by the upper external perimeter, lower external perimeter and at least the protrusion of the three-dimensional shape, with the protrusion extending upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter, and the protrusion narrows as it passes upward between the lower external perimeter and the upper external perimeter of a three-dimensional shape;
the form further forms a third volume between the first volume and the second volume, wherein the form is adapted to receive water into the third volume.

Images