Ice cutting tray

Abstract

An ice maker includes an ice making unit and an ice storage bin. A frame is positioned between the ice making unit and the storage bin. An ice making tray is coupled with the frame, including a base defining a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures. A plurality of ice forming features is positioned proximate the first plurality of apertures. The ice forming features are coupled to and extend away from the base. A heating element is in thermal communication with the ice forming features. A wastewater disposal assembly is coupled with the ice making tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming shaped ice pieces from a slab of ice, comprising:
 providing an angled chilling plate in an ice making unit;   dispensing water onto the angled chilling plate, wherein the water concentrically builds layers of ice to form an ice slab;   heating the angled chilling plate;   sliding the ice slab from the angled chilling plate onto a tray assembly having ice forming features;   heating the ice forming features to separate the ice slab into ice pieces and waste ice; and   passing the ice pieces through the ice forming features, the ice pieces having a shape corresponding with a shape of channels of the ice forming features.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of heating the ice forming features includes energizing a resistive element thermally coupled with the ice forming features. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 positioning an ice storage bin below the tray assembly to receive the ice pieces.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting the tray assembly in the ice making unit.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 melting the waste ice into wastewater to be drained via apertures in the tray assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 collecting the wastewater in a wastewater disposal assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ice slab is formed free of bubbles and sediment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the channels is at least one of a heart shape, a star shape, a tree shape, a pumpkin shape, a butterfly shape. 
     
     
         9 . A method of forming a slab of ice free of bubbles, comprising:
 providing a chilling plate within an ice maker, wherein the chilling plate is disposed at an angled position relative to a horizontal plane of the ice maker;   dispensing water onto the chilling plate, wherein the water solidifies as layers of ice; and   concentrically building the layers of ice to form an ice slab by flowing the water across the chilling plate, wherein the angled position of the chilling plate allows the ice slab to be free of sediment and air bubbles.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 heating the chilling plate to sever a bond between the ice slab and the chilling plate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 dispensing the ice slab onto a tray assembly for forming ice pieces.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 thermally coupling the chilling plate with a cooling system to extract heat from the chilling plate.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 fluidly coupling a water source with the ice maker; and   filtering at least one of gases and particulates from the water with a purifying system prior to the water being dispensed onto the chilling plate.   
     
     
         14 . A method of making shaped ice pieces, comprising:
 forming an ice slab by concentrically building layers of ice on an angled chilling plate;   heating the angled chilling plate;   sliding the ice slab from the angled chilling plate onto ice forming features of a tray assembly;   heating the ice forming features to separate ice pieces from the ice slab; and   passing the ice pieces through the ice forming features for collection.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of passing the ice pieces through the ice forming features includes forming the ice pieces into a shape based on a shape of channels of the ice forming features. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of heating the ice forming features includes separating waste ice from the ice pieces. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the waste ice is collected on a base of the tray assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 melting the waste ice into wastewater; and   collecting the wastewater in a wastewater disposal assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of heating the ice forming features includes energizing a resistive element thermally coupled with the ice forming features. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of forming the ice slab includes forming the ice slab free of at least one of sediment and air bubbles.