An on-demand and efficient ice delivery unit is described. In an aspect, the unit is comprises a cabinet that further comprises an ice storage bin and an icemaker. The ice delivery unit provides a user with compressed chewable nuggets of ice. In an aspect, the unit comprises an icemaker that is ideally located below the ice storage bin. The location of the icemaker, which may also be remote, is designed to enable the ice storage bin to be of a larger capacity than ice delivery units currently known in the art. Additionally, the location of the icemaker reduces the overall size, particularly the height, of the unit in comparison to other ice distribution units known in the art.

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.

A refrigeration appliance has an enclosure that defines an electronics module recess and a detachable electronics module that can be releasably retained in the recess. Tabs and tab receivers can be integrated with the electronics module and enclosure to releasably retain the electronics module in the recess. A trim piece can releasably attach to a display bezel of the electronics module by a snap-fit connection to retain the electronics module in the electronics module recess. In use, the electronics module can be selectively removed and a data acquisition device can be connected to the appliance using a data connector that is exposed by removing the electronics module.

An ice maker includes a prefabricated cabinet with a base that defines a bottom of an ice maker housing. An access side of the cabinet defines a doorway for accessing an ice making device in the housing. A prefabricated door for opening and closing the doorway has a bottom spaced apart above the bottom of the housing. The ice maker can be mounted on a prefabricated receptacle so that the bottom of the housing is flush with a top of the receptacle and the door can clear a protruding dispenser unit as it swings on its hinge. The prefabricated cabinet may include a door mount that couples the door to the cabinet so that the bottom of the door is spaced above the bottom of the ice maker.

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.

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet, a door, and an ice bin. The ice bin may be removably received within a chilled chamber and include a bin body and a non-vertical auger. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein and a dispenser opening in fluid communication with the storage volume. The non-vertical auger may include a rotation shaft extending along a rotation axis and a cam disposed on the rotation shaft. The ice bin may include a kick plate within the storage volume. The cam on the non-vertical auger may actuate the kick plate.

Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.

An ice maker for a household refrigeration apparatus includes a housing with an opening through which ice is dispensable from an interior of the housing out of the housing. A crushing device for crushing ice is provided at the opening. A flap is movably disposed at the opening and switchable between a closed position for dispensing crushed ice and an opened position for dispensing uncrushed ice through the opening. A drive unit is coupled to the flap by a coupling device for moving the flap. The flap has a pivot axis about which the flap pivots and a first flap arm coupled to the coupling device and a second flap arm movable relative to the opening, extend radially away from the pivot axis. A household refrigeration apparatus includes an apparatus housing having a receiving space for food, and an ice maker.

An ice machine is provided herein that includes a cabinet having a cabinet door coupled thereto through a hinge assembly. A frame is positioned within the cabinet and includes a base portion and a support portion. A hopper is supported by the support portion of the frame. The hopper includes an ice dispensing interface. A housing is operably coupled with the cabinet door and defines an ice harvesting chamber. A chute is coupled with the housing and is in communication with the ice dispensing interface. A container hanging assembly is operably coupled with the chute. An attachment rod is coupled to the housing and is positioned on an opposing side of the chute from the container hanging assembly. A drain is defined by a bottom portion of the housing.

An ice machine including a cabinet with a cabinet door coupled thereto through a hinge assembly. A frame within the cabinet includes a base portion and a support portion supporting a hopper that contains an ice dispensing interface. A housing is operably coupled with the cabinet door and defines an ice harvesting chamber having a bottom (floor) portion containing multiple levels as defined by separation of the bottom portion from the top of the housing and a drain. A chute is coupled with the housing and is in communication with the ice dispensing interface. A container hanging assembly is coupled with the chute. An attachment rod, coupled to the housing, is positioned on a side of the chute opposite to the container hanging assembly.