Ice makers and refrigeration appliances with ice makers

Abstract

Ice makers and refrigeration appliances are provided. An ice maker includes a motor, and a mold body rotatably coupled to the motor and rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The mold body defines a plurality of mold compartments and a main opening providing access to each of the plurality of mold compartments. The ice maker further includes a cover body defining a recess, the recess configured to accept at least a portion of the mold body therein. The ice maker further includes a heating assembly coupled to the cover body within the recess, the heating assembly comprising a heating element embedded in a heating body. The mold body is rotatable between a first position wherein the main opening is generally enclosed by the cover body and a second position wherein the main opening is generally exposed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker, the ice maker comprising:
 a motor;   a mold body rotatably coupled to the motor and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mold body defining a plurality of mold compartments and a main opening providing access to each of the plurality of mold compartments;   a cover body defining a recess, the recess configured to accept at least a portion of the mold body therein;   a heating assembly coupled to the cover body within the recess, the heating assembly comprising a heating element embedded in a heating body,   wherein the mold body is rotatable between a first position wherein the main opening is generally enclosed by the cover body and a second position wherein the main opening is generally exposed.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein in the first position the mold body is generally exterior to the recess in the second position the mold body is generally within the recess. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the cover body defines the recess, and wherein the heating assembly is coupled to the inner surface. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 3 , wherein an outer contour of the heating body generally corresponds to a contour of the inner surface. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein an outer contour of the mold body generally corresponds to an inner contour of the heating body. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heating body is formed from silicone. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the motor and the heating assembly, the controller configured to activate the heating assembly when the mold body is in the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the cover body further defines a liquid receptacle and a passage in fluid communication with the liquid receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the mold body further includes a first shaft and a second shaft each extending from the mold body along the longitudinal axis, the first shaft coupled to the motor, the second shaft defining a passage in fluid communication between the passage of the cover body and the plurality of mold compartments. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mold compartments are arranged in series along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber;   a door for accessing one of the fresh food chamber or the freezer chamber; and   an ice maker disposed within one of the fresh food chamber, the freezer chamber or the door, the ice maker comprising:
 a motor; 
 a mold body rotatably coupled to the motor and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mold body defining a plurality of mold compartments and a main opening providing access to each of the plurality of mold compartments; 
 a cover body defining a recess, the recess configured to accept at least a portion of the mold body therein; 
 a heating assembly coupled to the cover body within the recess, the heating assembly comprising a heating element embedded in a heating body, 
 wherein the mold body is rotatable between a first position wherein the main opening is generally enclosed by the cover body and a second position wherein the main opening is generally exposed. 
   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein in the first position the mold body is generally exterior to the recess in the second position the mold body is generally within the recess. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of the cover body defines the recess, and wherein the heating assembly is coupled to the inner surface. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 13 , wherein an outer contour of the heating body generally corresponds to a contour of the inner surface. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein an outer contour of the mold body generally corresponds to an inner contour of the heating body. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the heating body is formed from silicone. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller in communication with the motor and the heating assembly, the controller configured to activate the heating assembly when the mold body is in the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the cover body further defines a liquid receptacle and a passage in fluid communication with the liquid receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the mold body further includes a first shaft and a second shaft each extending from the mold body along the longitudinal axis, the first shaft coupled to the motor, the second shaft defining a passage in fluid communication between the passage of the cover body and the plurality of mold compartments. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of mold compartments are arranged in series along the longitudinal axis.