Through-type water tank for ice maker

Abstract

Provided is a through-type water tank for an ice maker, including: a body; a water tank, a basket, an evaporator, and a refrigeration system arranged within the body, where a slide rail is arranged within the body, the water tank is mounted on the slide rail and is slidable outward from the front side of the body; a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, wherein the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; a piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, where the piston expands when the water tank is pulled outward, and when the water tank is pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202520215005.X, filed on February 11, 2025. The entire disclosures of the aforementioned application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of ice makers, and more particularly to a through-type water tank for an ice maker.BACKGROUND

[0003] A crescent ice maker is a type of ice-making equipment specifically designed to produce crescent-shaped ice cubes. As the name suggests, crescent ice resembles the shape of a crescent moon and features a unique appearance and excellent performance. Crescent ice is characterized by its distinct shape and superior properties, such as high hardness, high transparency, and slow melting rate. These features enhance both the taste and visual appeal of beverages in which it is used. The shape and size of crescent ice make it easy to store and use, whether in food service establishments or at home, offering a convenient ice solution in various settings. Due to the adoption of advanced water inlet and flow-guiding systems, as well as optimized evaporator design, crescent ice makers typically demonstrate high ice-making efficiency. This means they can produce a large quantity of ice within a short period, making them suitable for scenarios with high demand.

[0004] Typically, the water tank of an ice maker is located inside the machine body and fixed in position because it is connected to pipelines. As a result, it is difficult to clean the water tank, especially the inner corners, during maintenance. Although the use of a movable water tank could improve cleanability, it introduces challenges in the design of the piping path.SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure provides a through-type water tank for an ice maker, which is advantageous in facilitating cleaning, and solves the problem that the water tank in existing ice makers is difficult to clean.

[0006] In a first aspect, provided is a through-type water tank for an ice maker, including a body; and a water tank, a basket, and an evaporator, where water from the water tank is sprayed onto the evaporator to condense into ice, and the condensed ice detaches from the evaporator and falls into the basket, where: a slide rail is arranged within the body, where the water tank is mounted on the slide rail and is slidable outward from the front side of the body; a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, where the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; and a piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, where the piston expands when the water tank is pulled outward, and when the water tank is pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

[0007] In a second aspect, provided is a water tank for an ice maker, where the water tank is mounted on a slide rail arranged within a body of the ice maker and is slidable outward from the front side of the body; a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, where the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; and a piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, where the piston expands when the water tank is pulled outward, and when the water tank is pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

[0008] In a third aspect, provided is a method for making ice using an ice maker, including: cooling an evaporator using a refrigeration system, where the ice maker comprises a body, a water tank, a basket, the evaporator, and the refrigeration system; spraying, from the water tank, water onto the evaporator for condensation to form ice; and detaching the ice from the evaporator to the ice basket, where a slide rail is arranged within the body, the water tank is mounted on the slide rail and is slidable outward from the front side of the body; a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, wherein the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; and a piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, the piston expands in response to the water tank being pulled outward, and in response to the water tank being pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

[0009] It is to be understood that the above general descriptions and detailed descriptions below are only exemplary and explanatory and not intended to limit the disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a through-type water tank for an ice maker according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 is another schematic structural diagram of a through-type water tank for an ice maker according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3 is another schematic structural diagram of a through-type water tank for an ice maker according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is another schematic structural diagram of a through-type water tank for an ice maker according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description refers to the accompanying drawings in which the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise represented. The implementations set forth in the following description of examples do not represent all implementations consistent with the disclosure. Instead, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with aspects related to the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.

[0016] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,”“an example,”“some embodiments,”“some examples,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at least one embodiment or example. Features, structures, elements, or characteristics described in connection with one or some embodiments are also applicable to other embodiments, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0017] The terms “module,”“sub-module,”“circuit,”“sub-circuit,”“circuitry,”“sub-circuitry,”“unit,” or “sub-unit” may include memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code or instructions that can be executed by one or more processors. A module may include one or more circuits with or without stored code or instructions. The module or circuit may include one or more components that are directly or indirectly connected. These components may or may not be physically attached to, or located adjacent to, one another.

[0018] For making it convenient for those skilled in the art to understand, multiple implementation modes are listed in the embodiments of the disclosure to describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the disclosure clearly. Of course, those skilled in the art can understood that multiple embodiments provided in the embodiments of the disclosure can be executed independently, or can be combined with methods of the other embodiments in the embodiments of the disclosure for execution together, or may be executed independently or after combined with some methods in other related technologies. No limits are made thereto in the embodiments of the disclosure.

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a through-type water tank for an ice maker, including an ice maker body 1. A water tank 11, an ice basket 13, an evaporator 14, and a refrigeration system are disposed inside the ice maker body 1. The refrigeration system cools the evaporator 14. Water from the water tank 11 is sprayed onto the evaporator 14 for condensation. The resulting ice detaches from the evaporator and falls into the ice basket 13. The water tank 11 is arranged at the front side of the ice maker body 1. A slide rail 111 is disposed inside the ice maker body 1. The water tank 11 is mounted on the slide rail 111 so that it can be pulled outward from the front side of the ice maker body 1. A communication pipe 12 and a liner 121 are arranged at the rear side of the water tank 11. The water tank 11 is connected to the liner 121 via the communication pipe 12 to supply water to the evaporator 14. An elastic piston 112 is provided at the connection between the water tank 11 and the communication pipe 12. When the water tank 11 is pulled out, the piston 112 expands and returns to its original shape to close the flow path and prevent water leakage from the water tank 11. When the water tank 11 is pushed back in, the communication pipe 12 is inserted into the piston 112, compressing the piston 112 and establishing fluid communication with the water tank 11.

[0020] In some embodiments, the refrigeration system is composed of a condenser tube, a compressor, and a condenser. FIG. 4 is another schematic structural diagram of a through-type water tank for an ice maker according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the refrigeration system 15 includes a condenser tube 152, a compressor 153, and a condenser 151. During the ice-making process, the compressor and condenser operate to cool the refrigerant in the condenser tube, which is then delivered into the evaporator 14. Water from the water tank 11 is supplied to the evaporator 14 through the communication pipe 12 and the liner 121. Upon contact with the cooled surface of the evaporator 14, the water condenses into ice. When the ice reaches a sufficient size, heat is applied via the condenser tube in reverse to release the ice from the evaporator. When cleaning of the water tank 11 or other maintenance is needed, the user can pull the water tank 11 outward along the slide rail 111 from the front side of the ice maker body 1. During the process of pulling out the water tank 11, the piston 112 expands and returns to its original shape due to the loss of pressure provided by the communication pipe 12, thereby disconnecting the water tank 11 from the communication pipe 12 and preventing unintended water discharge. After maintenance or cleaning is completed, the user pushes the water tank 11 back to its original position along the slide rail 111. As the water tank 11 is pushed back in, the end port of the communication pipe 12 is inserted into the elastic piston 112, compresses and deforms the piston, thereby re-establishing the connection between the water tank 11 and the communication pipe 12.

[0021] In some embodiments, an electromagnetic valve 122 is provided at the connection between the water tank 11 and the communication pipe 12. The electromagnetic valve 122 is fixed in position and connected to the communication pipe 12 to control the flow state of the communication pipe 12.

[0022] In some embodiments, the water tank 11 is disposed at the top of the ice maker body 1, and the evaporator 14 is arranged at the rear side of the water tank 11.

[0023] In some embodiments, an ice basket 13 is arranged below the water tank 11, and an inclined ice filtering grid is disposed below the evaporator 14. Ice detaching from the evaporator 14 falls onto the filtering grid and then slides into the ice basket 13. Uncondensed water passes through the filtering grid and is collected back into the liner 121.

[0024] In some embodiments, a rail is provided on the side of the ice basket 13, allowing the ice basket 13 to flip outward from the ice maker body 1.

[0025] In some embodiments, the ice maker body 1 is provided with a water tank 11, an ice basket 13, an evaporator 14, and a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system cools the evaporator 14. Water from the water tank 11 is sprayed onto the evaporator 14 for condensation. The resulting ice detaches from the evaporator and falls into the ice basket 13. The water tank 11 is arranged at the front side of the ice maker body 1, and a slide rail 111 is disposed inside the ice maker body 1. The water tank 11 is mounted on the slide rail 111, allowing it to be pulled outward from the front side of the ice maker body 1. A communication pipe 12 and a liner 121 are arranged at the rear side of the water tank 11. The water tank 11 is in fluid communication with the liner 121 through the communication pipe 12, and water is then supplied to the evaporator 14. An elastic piston 112 is provided at the connection between the water tank 11 and the communication pipe 12. When the water tank 11 is pulled out, the piston 112 expands and returns to its original shape. When the water tank 11 is pushed back in, the communication pipe 12 is inserted into an interior portion of the piston 112, compresses the piston, and establishes fluid communication with the water tank 11. The refrigeration system includes a condenser tube, a compressor, and a condenser. During the ice-making process, the compressor and condenser operate to cool the refrigerant in the condenser tube, which is then delivered to the evaporator 14. Water from the water tank 11 is transported to the evaporator 14 through the communication pipe 12 and liner 121. Upon contact with the evaporator 14, the water condenses into ice. When the ice reaches a sufficient size, reverse heating via the condenser tube so as to release the ice from the evaporator. When the water tank 11 needs to be cleaned or otherwise maintained, the user can pull it outward along the slide rail 111 from the front side of the ice maker body 1. During the pulling process, the piston 112 expands and returns to its original shape due to the loss of pressure from the communication pipe 12, thereby disconnecting the water tank 11 from the communication pipe 12 and preventing unintended water discharge. After maintenance or cleaning, the user pushes the water tank 11 back to its original position along the slide rail 111. As the water tank 11 is pushed back in, the end of the communication pipe 12 is inserted into the elastic piston 112, compresses and deforms the piston, and re-establishes the connection between the water tank 11 and the communication pipe 12.

[0026] The present disclosure discloses, in some examples, an ice maker including a body, a water tank, a basket, an evaporator, and a refrigeration system arranged within the body, where the refrigeration system is configured to cool the evaporator, water from the water tank is sprayed onto the evaporator to condense into ice, and the condensed ice detaches from the evaporator and falls into the basket. In some examples, the water from the water tank is controlled by the electromagnetic valve to flow into the ice maker body, where it is sprayed onto the evaporator by a water pump to condense into ice. In some examples, the body of the ice maker may include an inner container, with a water storage chamber at the bottom. The basket of the ice maker is located above the water storage chamber. A water pump is located at the rear of the water storage chamber. During ice-making, the water pump sprays water onto the evaporator, and the water that does not freeze into ice flows back into the water storage chamber for recirculation. During ice removal, the water pump operates to spray water onto the upper evaporating tube of the evaporator. The evaporator is equipped with a water distribution pipe structure, allowing the water to heat the evaporator more evenly through the evaporating tube, making it easier for the ice block to fall off. The circulation of water by the pump also prevents water waste.

[0027] Furthermore, the a slide rail is arranged within the body, where the water tank is mounted on the slide rail and is slidable outward from the front side of the body, a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, where the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe, and a piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, where the piston expands in response to the water tank being pulled outward, and in response to the water tank being pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

[0028] In some examples, an electromagnetic valve is disposed at the connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, where the electromagnetic valve is fixedly connected to the communication pipe and configured to control fluid flow through the communication pipe.

[0029] In some examples, the water tank is arranged at a top portion of the body, and the evaporator is arranged at the rear side of the water tank.

[0030] In some examples, the basket is arranged below the water tank, and an inclined ice filtering grid is arranged below the evaporator, where the condensed ice falls onto the inclined filtering grid and slides into the basket, and uncondensed water passes through the inclined filtering grid and is collected back into the liner.

[0031] In some examples, a rail is located on a side of the basket, where the rail is configured to allow the basket to pivot outward from the body. In some examples, the basket is placed on a door panel, and a rotating shaft is provided on a side of the bottom of the door panel. The rotating shaft allows the door panel to flip outward from the body of the ice maker. The door panel is provided with a guide rail, and the basket is provided with a slot. The slot of the basket is inserted into the guide rail on the door panel, so that when the door panel flips outward, the basket is simultaneously flipped out.

[0032] In some examples, the refrigeration system may include a condenser tube, a compressor, and a condenser, where the compressor and the condenser operate to cool refrigerant in the condenser tube, and the cooled refrigerant is delivered into the evaporator.

[0033] In some examples, the refrigeration system may include an evaporating tube, a compressor, a throttling device, and a condenser. The refrigeration system is configured to cool the evaporating tube, causing the water on the surface of the evaporator formed by the evaporating tube to condense into ice.

[0034] The present disclosure discloses, in some examples, a water tank for an ice maker, where the water tank is mounted on a slide rail arranged within a body of the ice maker and is slidable outward from the front side of the body; a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, where the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; and a piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, where the piston expands in response to the water tank being pulled outward, and in response to the water tank being pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

[0035] The present disclosure discloses, in some examples, a method for making ice using an ice maker including the following steps: cooling an evaporator using a refrigeration system, where the ice maker includes a body, a water tank, a basket, the evaporator, and the refrigeration system; spraying, from the water tank, water onto the evaporator for condensation to form ice; and detaching the ice from the evaporator to the ice basket. Furthermore, a slide rail is arranged within the body, where the water tank is mounted on the slide rail and is slidable outward from the front side of the body; a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, where the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; and a piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, where the piston expands in response to the water tank being pulled outward, and in response to the water tank being pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank. In some examples, spraying, from the water tank, water onto the evaporator for condensation to form ice may further include that: water is supplied from the water tank to the water storage chamber of an inner container through a solenoid valve; a water pump is installed at the rear of the water storage chamber of the inner container; the water storage chamber of the inner container sprays water onto the evaporator via the water pump to condense and form ice.

[0036] In some examples, the method may further include cooling refrigerant in a condenser tube of the refrigeration system, where the refrigeration system includes the condenser tube, a compressor, and a condenser; delivering the refrigerant to the evaporator; and transporting, from the water tank, the water to the evaporator through the communication pipe and the liner so that the water condenses into the ice.

[0037] In some examples, the refrigeration system may include an evaporating tube, a compressor, a throttling device, and a condenser. The refrigeration system is used to cool the evaporating tube, causing the water on the surface of the evaporator formed by the evaporating tube to condense into ice. When it is detected that the ice block has reached a predetermined size, reverse heating is performed through the evaporating tube to cause the ice block to detach from the evaporator.

[0038] In some examples, the method may further include in response to determining that the ice reaches a pre-determined size, performing reverse heating via the condenser tube so as to release the ice from the evaporator.

[0039] The present disclosure provides a through-type water tank for an ice maker, which offers the following advantageous effects:

[0040] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water tank is positioned at the front-middle portion of the ice maker body and is mounted on slide rails, allowing it to be pulled out and pushed in. These embodiments enable users to easily remove the water tank from the front side for cleaning or maintenance without requiring disassembly of other components, significantly improving operational convenience. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the elastic piston achieves automatic sealing and connection between the water tank and the communication pipe. When the water tank is pulled out, the piston expands and returns to its original shape as a result of the pressure being released, thereby disconnecting the water tank from the communication pipe and preventing water leakage. When the water tank is pushed back in, the end of the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compresses it, and re-establishes the connection. This process requires no manual operation and is both safe and convenient. The automatic sealing function of the elastic piston effectively prevents water leakage during the pull-out and push-in operations of the water tank, mitigating the risk of leakage caused by improper operation or equipment aging, and ensuring the stability and safety of the device.

[0041] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, an inclined ice filtering grid is arranged below the evaporator, which effectively collects ice that detaches from the evaporator and guides it into the ice basket. These embodiments not only simplify the ice collection process but also reduce ice loss and damage during collection. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the ice filtering grid is designed not only to collect ice but also to allow uncondensed water to pass through and be collected back into the liner, thereby realizing water recycling, reducing water waste, and lowering the operational cost of the device. Although the water tank is positioned at the top of the ice maker body, the previously mentioned slide rail in some embodiments of the present disclosure enables the user to easily pull out the tank for cleaning or maintenance. These embodiments ensure that the device remains clean while also providing user-friendly operation.

[0042] It should be noted that, in the present description, relational terms such as “first” and “second” are used solely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and are not necessarily intended to imply any actual relationship or order between such entities or operations. Moreover, the terms “comprise,”“include,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not limited to those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, an element defined by the phrase “comprising a…” does not exclude the presence of additional, identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

[0043] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications, alterations, substitutions, or equivalents can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. An ice maker, comprising:a body;a water tank; a basket;an evaporator, wherein water from the water tank is sprayed onto the evaporator to condense into ice, and the condensed ice detaches from the evaporator and falls into the basket, wherein:a slide rail is arranged within the body, wherein the water tank is mounted on the slide rail and is slidable outward from the front side of the body;a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, wherein the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; anda piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, wherein the piston expands in response to the water tank being pulled outward, and in response to the water tank being pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

2. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein an electromagnetic valve is disposed at the connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, wherein the electromagnetic valve is fixedly connected to the communication pipe and configured to control fluid flow through the communication pipe.

3. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the water tank is located at a top portion of the body, and the evaporator is located at the rear side of the water tank.

4. The ice maker according to claim 3, wherein the basket is located below the water tank, and an inclined ice filtering grid is located below the evaporator, wherein the condensed ice falls onto the inclined filtering grid and slides into the basket, and uncondensed water passes through the inclined filtering grid and is collected back into the liner.

5. The ice maker according to claim 4, wherein a rail is located on a side of the basket, wherein the rail is configured to allow the basket to pivot outward from the body.

6. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the water from the water tank is sprayed onto the evaporator to condense into ice comprises:the water from the water tank is controlled by the electromagnetic valve to flow into the body, and the water in the body is sprayed onto the evaporator by a water pump to condense into ice;wherein the body comprises an inner container, a water storage chamber is located at the bottom of the inner container, the basket is located above the water storage chamber, a water pump is located at the rear of the water storage chamber,during ice-making, the water pump sprays water onto the evaporator, and the water that does not freeze into ice flows back into the water storage chamber for recirculation; andduring ice removal, the water pump operates to spray water onto an upper evaporating tube of the evaporator, wherein the evaporator has a water distribution pipe structure.

7. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the basket is placed on a door panel, and a rotating shaft is located on a side of the bottom of the door panel, the rotating shaft allows the door panel to flip outward from the body of the ice maker, the door panel comprises a guide rail, and the basket comprises a slot inserted into the guide rail on the door panel, so that when the door panel flips outward, the basket is simultaneously flipped out.

8. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein a refrigeration system is arranged within the body and configured to cool the evaporator, wherein the refrigeration system comprises a condenser tube, a compressor, and a condenser, wherein the compressor and the condenser operate to cool refrigerant in the condenser tube, and the cooled refrigerant is delivered into the evaporator.

9. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein a refrigeration system is arranged within the body and comprises an evaporating tube, a compressor, a throttling device, and a condenser., the refrigeration system is configured to cool the evaporating tube, causing the water on the surface of the evaporator formed by the evaporating tube to condense into ice.

10. A water tank for an ice maker, wherein:the water tank is mounted on a slide rail arranged within a body of the ice maker and is slidable outward from the front side of the body;a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, wherein the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; anda piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, wherein the piston expands in response to the water tank being pulled outward, and in response to the water tank being pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

11. The water tank for the ice maker according to claim 10, wherein an electromagnetic valve is disposed at the connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, wherein the electromagnetic valve is fixedly connected to the communication pipe and configured to control fluid flow through the communication pipe.

12. The water tank for the ice maker according to claim 10, wherein the water tank is located at a top portion of the body.

13. An ice maker comprising the water tank according to claim 10, further comprising a basket, an evaporator, and a refrigeration system, wherein:the evaporator is located at the rear side of the water tank;the refrigeration system is configured to cool the evaporator such that water from the water tank is sprayed onto the evaporator to condense into ice; andthe basket is located below the water tank, and an inclined ice filtering grid is located below the evaporator, wherein condensed ice falls onto the inclined filtering grid and slides into the basket, and uncondensed water passes through the inclined filtering grid and is collected back into the liner.

14. The ice maker according to claim 13, wherein a rail is located on a side of the basket, wherein the rail is configured to allow the basket to pivot outward from the body.

15. The ice maker according to claim 13, wherein the water from the water tank is sprayed onto the evaporator to condense into ice comprises:the water from the water tank is controlled by the electromagnetic valve to flow into the body, and the water in the body is sprayed onto the evaporator by a water pump to condense into ice;wherein the body comprises an inner container, a water storage chamber is located at the bottom of the inner container, the basket is located above the water storage chamber, a water pump is located at the rear of the water storage chamber,during ice-making, the water pump sprays water onto the evaporator, and the water that does not freeze into ice flows back into the water storage chamber for recirculation; andduring ice removal, the water pump operates to spray water onto an upper evaporating tube of the evaporator, wherein the evaporator has a water distribution pipe structure.

16. The ice maker according to claim 13, wherein the basket is placed on a door panel, and a rotating shaft is located on a side of the bottom of the door panel, the rotating shaft allows the door panel to flip outward from the body of the ice maker, the door panel comprises a guide rail, and the basket comprises a slot inserted into the guide rail on the door panel, so that when the door panel flips outward, the basket is simultaneously flipped out.

17. The ice maker according to claim 13, wherein the refrigeration system comprises a condenser tube, a compressor, and a condenser, wherein the compressor and the condenser operate to cool refrigerant in the condenser tube, and the cooled refrigerant is delivered into the evaporator.

18. The ice maker according to claim 13, wherein a refrigeration system is arranged within the body and comprises an evaporating tube, a compressor, a throttling device, and a condenser., the refrigeration system is configured to cool the evaporating tube, causing the water on the surface of the evaporator formed by the evaporating tube to condense into ice.

19. A method for making ice using an ice maker, comprising:cooling an evaporator using a refrigeration system, wherein the ice maker comprises a body, a water tank, a basket, the evaporator, and the refrigeration system;spraying, from the water tank, water onto the evaporator for condensation to form ice; anddetaching the ice from the evaporator to the basket,wherein a slide rail is arranged within the body, wherein the water tank is mounted on the slide rail and is slidable outward from the front side of the body;wherein a communication pipe and a liner are arranged at a rear side of the water tank, wherein the water tank is in fluid communication with the liner via the communication pipe; andwherein a piston is disposed at a connection between the water tank and the communication pipe, wherein the piston expands in response to the water tank being pulled outward, and in response to the water tank being pushed inward, the communication pipe is inserted into the piston, compressing the piston and establishing fluid communication with the water tank.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:cooling refrigerant in a condenser tube of the refrigeration system, wherein the refrigeration system comprises the condenser tube, a compressor, and a condenser;delivering the refrigerant to the evaporator; andtransporting, from the water tank, the water to the evaporator through the communication pipe and the liner so that the water condenses into the ice,wherein the method further comprises:in response to determining that the ice reaches a pre-determined size, performing reverse heating via the condenser tube so as to release the ice from the evaporator.

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