Ice maker appliance leak detection

Abstract

An ice maker appliance includes a mold body configured for receiving liquid water and for forming ice from the liquid water within the mold body and a collection tray below the mold body along a vertical direction. The collection tray defines an internal volume. The collection tray is positioned and configured to capture and retain an escaped portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the internal volume of the collection tray.

1 . An ice maker appliance, comprising:
 a mold body configured for receiving liquid water and for forming ice from the liquid water within the mold body; and   a collection tray positioned directly below the mold body along a vertical direction and in contact with the mold body, the collection tray defining an internal volume, the collection tray positioned and configured to capture and retain an escaped portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the internal volume of the collection tray, wherein the collection tray is directly connected to the mold body by a tab and slot connection, the tab and slot connection comprising a tab on one of the mold body and the collection tray and a slot on the other of the mold body and the collection tray.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an ice storage bin positioned below the mold body along the vertical direction, wherein the collection tray is positioned between the mold body and the ice storage bin along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the mold body comprises a twist tray configured to rotate about a central axis thereof, and wherein the collection tray is connected to the twist tray whereby the collection tray rotates with the twist tray about the central axis. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 5 , further comprising a mount unit, the twist tray coupled to a rotor and an actuation device of the mount unit, whereby the actuation device is operable to rotate the rotor, the twist tray, and the collection tray about the central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor positioned in the internal volume of the collection tray and a controller in communication with the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the escaped portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the internal volume of the collection tray and to send a signal to the controller in response to detecting the escaped portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the internal volume of the collection tray, and wherein the controller is configured to provide a user notification in response to the signal from the sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor comprises a radio frequency identification tag in the internal volume of the collection tray. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor positioned at least partially within the internal volume of the collection tray. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a food storage chamber;   an icebox; and   an ice maker positioned in the icebox, the ice maker comprising:
 a mold body configured for receiving liquid water and for forming ice from the liquid water within the mold body; and 
 a collection tray positioned directly below the mold body along a vertical direction and in contact with the mold body, the collection tray defining an internal volume, the collection tray positioned and configured to capture and retain an escaped portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the internal volume of the collection tray, wherein the collection tray is directly connected to the mold body by a tab and slot connection, the tab and slot connection comprising a tab on one of the mold body and the collection tray and a slot on the other of the mold body and the collection tray. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising an ice storage bin positioned below the mold body along the vertical direction, wherein the collection tray is positioned between the mold body and the ice storage bin along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the mold body comprises a twist tray configured to rotate about a central axis thereof, and wherein the collection tray is connected to the twist tray whereby the collection tray rotates with the twist tray about the central axis. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , further comprising a mount unit, the twist tray coupled to a rotor and an actuation device of the mount unit, whereby the actuation device is operable to rotate the rotor, the twist tray, and the collection tray about the central axis. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor positioned in the internal volume of the collection tray and a controller in communication with the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the escaped portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the internal volume of the collection tray and to send a signal to the controller in response to detecting the escaped portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the internal volume of the collection tray, and wherein the controller is configured to provide a user notification in response to the signal from the sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises a radio frequency identification tag in the internal volume of the collection tray. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor positioned at least partially within the internal volume of the collection tray. 
     
     
         19 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tab and slot connection comprises the tab on the collection tray and the slot in the mold body. 
     
     
         20 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 20 , wherein the mold body comprises a projecting arm, the slot formed in the projecting arm and the tab received in the slot in the projecting arm. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the tab and slot connection comprises the tab on the collection tray and the slot in the mold body. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 21 , wherein the mold body comprises a projecting arm, the slot formed in the projecting arm and the tab received in the slot in the projecting arm.