Stand-alone ice making appliances and methods of controlling stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance further includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water from the pump. The appliance further includes an off-time detector configured to provide a signal indicative of whether the ice maker has been unpowered for a time period sufficient to begin ice production without overheating.

A refrigerator appliance and ice maker apparatus are included herein. The ice maker apparatus may include a casing, an auger, a discrete flange, and an extruder die. The casing may define a chamber about a central axis. The casing may extend along the central axis between a top portion and a bottom portion. The casing may include a first material. The auger may be disposed within the chamber of the casing. The discrete flange may be selectively mounted on the casing. The discrete flange may include a second material that is unique from the first material. The extruder die may be attached to the discrete upper flange and positioned above the casing.

An auger-type ice maker includes an ice generator including an ice making tube, an auger installed coaxially within the ice making tube, and a refrigerant pipe wound spirally around and fixed to an outer surface of the ice making tube to be in close contact therewith, an ice compressor connected to an upper portion of the ice generator, the ice compressor configured to compress ice generated by the ice generator, and a fluid reservoir connected to a lower portion of the ice generator, the fluid reservoir configured to retain a fluid to be supplied to the ice generator. A portion of the fluid reservoir is disposed in a position the same as or higher than that of the ice compressor.

An ice maker having a refrigeration system, a water system and a control system. The refrigeration system includes an ice formation device. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device, and includes a water reservoir (e.g., a sump or float chamber) for holding water to be formed into ice and a discharge valve in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The control system includes an ice level sensor adapted to sense the ice level in an ice storage bin, and a controller adapted to cause water to drain from the water reservoir when the ice storage bin is full. Substantially or all of the water remaining in the water reservoir is drained such that while the ice maker is not making ice the water reservoir is empty of water.

A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make ice pieces; and an ice bucket assembly configured to store the ice pieces made by the ice maker. The ice bucket assembly includes a mechanism for producing nugget ice from the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly, the nugget ice being smaller in size as compared to the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly.

An ice making assembly includes an ice bucket with an agitator rotatably mounted within the ice bucket. The agitator may be rotated by a dispenser motor. The agitator may be coupled to the dispenser motor via a fork connected to the motor and a socket connected to the agitator. The fork is selectively engagable with the socket, and the fork transfers torque from the dispenser motor to the agitator via the socket when the fork engages the socket. The ice making assembly may be provided in a refrigerator appliance.

An ice maker includes a casing that defines a chamber. The casing extends between a top portion and a bottom portion. An extruder die is mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing. An auger is disposed within the chamber of the casing. A radial sleeve bearing engages the auger at the extruder die. A radial and thrust bearing engages the auger at the bottom portion of the casing. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

A refrigerator appliance and ice maker apparatus are included herein. The ice maker apparatus may include a casing, an auger, a discrete flange, and an extruder die. The casing may define a chamber about a central axis. The casing may extend along the central axis between a top portion and a bottom portion. The casing may include a first material. The auger may be disposed within the chamber of the casing. The discrete flange may be selectively mounted on the casing. The discrete flange may include a second material that is unique from the first material. The extruder die may be attached to the discrete upper flange and positioned above the casing.

An ice maker apparatus is provided that may include a casing, an extruder die, an auger, a heat exchange body, and a fin portion. The casing may define a chamber about a central axis and extend along the central axis between a top portion and a bottom portion. The extruder die may be mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing. The auger may be disposed within the chamber. The heat exchange body may be disposed in thermal engagement with the chamber. The heat exchange body may include a base wall extending along a portion of the casing and a sidewall extending outward from the base wall. The heat exchange body may also define an air duct across the base wall and sidewall. The fin portion may include a fin extending outward from the base wall. The fin may define a plurality of subchannels.

An ice maker includes a casing that defines a chamber. The casing extends between a top portion and a bottom portion. An extruder die is mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing. A motor is positioned above the extruder die. An auger is disposed within the chamber of the casing. The auger is coupled to a shaft of the motor with a threaded connection such that the auger is rotatable with the motor along a rotational direction within the chamber of the casing. The threaded connection between the auger and the shaft of the motor is wound opposite the rotational direction of the auger. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.