Disclosed is an evaporator assembly for a horizontal type ice making machine. The evaporator assembly includes a plurality of tubes for circulating a refrigerant; a plurality of conductive protrusions, which are thermally coupled to and extending from each of the plurality of tubes; and a non-conductive plate, which is arranged adjacent to the plurality of tubes. The non-conductive plate is defined with a plurality of moulds, wherein each of the plurality of moulds is defined with a provision to receive one of the plurality of conductive protrusions. Each of the plurality of tubes includes a hemispherical structure, configured to enclose a top portion of the mould. The configuration of the evaporator assembly facilitates fast and efficient formation of ice, and there improves the efficiency of the ice making machine.

Disclosed is a system and method for cleaning an ice machine, a cleaning apparatus comprising an ozone generator, at least one fluid line connecting an output from the ozone generator to at least one of a water inlet, a water recirculatory line, and a water reservoir, wherein the cleaning apparatus is configured for use with an ice machine. In some embodiments, one or more sensors are provided and may be configured to detect a call for new ice formation. The one or more sensors may comprise (i) a flow valve sensor, (ii) a sensor configured to detect if water is flowing through a water inlet, (iii) a sensor configured to detect a beginning of new ice formation, and/or (iv) a sensor configured to detect an end of new ice formation.

An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.

An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.

An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.

An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.

The present disclosure provides an ice making evaporator that combines the cubic shape of pan and partition evaporators with the central ice making of a pin evaporator to achieve an ice shape that is mostly cubic. Separation of the cooling ability of these two evaporator portions allows cube shaping during ice making cycle based on time, temperature, pressure, or other variables.

An ice maker has a bottom wall with a sensor opening. A time-of-flight sensor is supported in relation to the bottom wall such that the time-of-flight sensor can an optical pulse signal through the sensor opening toward the ice bin and subsequently detect a photon of the optical pulse signal that returns to the time-of-flight sensor through the sensor opening after reflecting off of one of a floor of the ice bin and ice in the ice bin. The time of flight sensor is configured to determine a duration between the emission of the optical pulse and the detection of the reflected photon(s). Based on the determined duration, the time-of-flight sensor or another processor can determine an amount of ice in the ice bin. The ice maker can be configured so that the time-of-flight sensor is removable, allowing a window pane of the time-of-flight sensor to be periodically cleaned.

An ice maker has a bottom wall with a sensor opening. A time-of-flight sensor is supported in relation to the bottom wall such that the time-of-flight sensor can an optical pulse signal through the sensor opening toward the ice bin and subsequently detect a photon of the optical pulse signal that returns to the time-of-flight sensor through the sensor opening after reflecting off of one of a floor of the ice bin and ice in the ice bin. The time of flight sensor is configured to determine a duration between the emission of the optical pulse and the detection of the reflected photon(s). Based on the determined duration, the time-of-flight sensor or another processor can determine an amount of ice in the ice bin. The ice maker can be configured so that the time-of-flight sensor is removable, allowing a window pane of the time-of-flight sensor to be periodically cleaned.

Disclosed is an evaporator assembly for a horizontal type ice making machine. The evaporator assembly includes a plurality of tubes for circulating a refrigerant; a plurality of conductive protrusions, which are thermally coupled to and extending from each of the plurality of tubes; and a non-conductive plate, which is arranged adjacent to the plurality of tubes. The non-conductive plate is defined with a plurality of moulds, wherein each of the plurality of moulds is defined with a provision to receive one of the plurality of conductive protrusions. Each of the plurality of tubes includes a hemispherical structure, configured to enclose a top portion of the mould. The configuration of the evaporator assembly facilitates fast and efficient formation of ice, and there improves the efficiency of the ice making machine.