Ice maker with bearing

Abstract

An ice making device can include an auger disposed in a chamber and an extruder coupled with the auger. The ice making device can include a rod comprising a first end coupled with the ice shaper and a second end coupled with the auger. The ice making device can include a bearing between the rod and the ice shaper and an ice shaper. The ice shaper modifies a shape of ice, and the ice shaper can be driven by the auger through the extruder, responsive to the ice contacting the ice shaper.

Description

ICE MAKER WITH BEARINGCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of and priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202323478212.4, filed 12 / 20 / 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates to ice making, and in particular to systems and methods of ice making devices.

[0003] Ice making devices, such as ice making appliances, can freeze water into ice, and can manipulate the ice into various useful structures, such as ice nuggets and crushed ice.SUMMARY

[0004] At least one aspect relates to an ice maker. The ice maker includes an auger, an extruder, an ice shaper, a rod, and a bearing. The auger is disposed in a chamber. The extruder is coupled with the auger. The auger is to drive the ice shaper through the extruder to modify a shape of ice responsive to the ice contacting the ice shaper. The rod includes a first end coupled with the ice shaper and a second end coupled with the auger. The bearing is positioned between the rod and the ice shaper.

[0005] At least one aspect relates to an ice making system. The ice making system includes an auger, an ice shaper, a rod, and a bearing. The auger is to drive ice from a chamber through an extruder. The ice shaper is to modify a shape of ice, responsive to the ice contacting the ice shaper. The rod has a first end and a second end, the first end coupled with the ice shaper and the second end coupled with the auger.

[0006] At least one aspect relates to an ice maker. The ice maker includes an auger, an extruder, an ice shaper, a rod, a bearing, and a gear motor assembly. The auger is disposed in a chamber and the extruder is coupled with the auger. The auger is to rotate and scrape an inner wall of the chamber and drive the ice shaper and direct ice through the extruder. The ice shaper is to modify a shape of ice responsive to the ice contacting the iceshaper. The rod includes a first end coupled with the ice shaper and a second end coupled with the auger. The bearing is positioned between the rod and the ice shaper.

[0007] In some implementations, the first end of the rod is coupled to the bearing and a second end of the rod is coupled to an end of the auger.

[0008] In some implementations, the rod penetrates through the ice shaper.

[0009] In some implementations, the bearing is a planar thrust ball bearing.

[0010] In some implementations, the downward reaction force of the auger acts on the rod and the bearing.In some implementations, the bearing is to limit an amount of the downward reaction force of the auger that acts on a gear assembly. The gear assembly is to fix a motor with the auger.

[0012] In some implementations, the rod, the bearing, the ice shaper, the extruder, and the auger are fixed together.

[0013] In some implementations, an output end of the chamber is fixed with the gear assembly.

[0014] In some implementations, the extruder and the ice shaper are centered on an axis, and the extruder is to direct the ice in a direction along the axis towards the ice shaper.10015] In some implementations, the ice shaper includes an inclined surface. The inclined surface is positioned at a distance from the extruder.

[0016] In some implementations, the ice maker includes a lower support disposed between the chamber and a gear motor assembly and a lower shaft sleeve and a lower sealing ring. The lower shaft sleeve and the lower sealing ring are disposed between the lower support and the auger.|0017] In some implementations, the ice maker includes an upper support disposed between the chamber and the extruder and an upper shaft sleeve and an upper sealing ring. The upper shaft sleeve and the upper sealing ring are disposed between the upper support and the extruder.[0018| In some implementations, the lower support is fixed to the upper support.[00191 In some implementations, the techniques described herein relate to an ice making apparatus, wherein the lower support includes a water inlet, the water inlet coupled with an inner wall of the chamber.

[0020] In some implementations, the ice maker includes an evaporation pipe. The evaporation pipe is surrounded by thermal insulation foam.|0021] In some implementations, the extruder includes a plurality of holes configured in a ring shape.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of an example of an ice making appliance.

[0023] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the ice making appliance of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional side view of the ice making appliance ofFIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of an example of the ice making appliance of FIG. 1.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and implementations of, methods, apparatuses, and systems of ice making devices. The various concepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below can be implemented in any of numerous ways.[0027'1 Ice making devices (e.g., portable ice makers, ice making appliance, built-in ice makers, commercial ice makers, etc.) can be used to produce ice in a particular form, such as cubes, or large blocks (e.g., pre-formed ice). It can be useful to further process or transform the ice into a different form or size (e.g., a target structure). Such forms can have target characteristics suited for a particular usage. For example, it can be useful to processthe pre-formed ice into pellet ice, to obtain a softer and porous ice that can more effectively cool a beverage, or be more enjoyable to chew.

[0028] Some ice making devices rely on rotation of an evaporator assembly in which ice is formed in order to release the ice. Such devices can thus have increased size, weight, and / or power requirements to produce a given amount of ice.10029] Ice making devices in accordance with the present disclosure can include a bearing to bear the downward reaction force of the system. This can prevent the downward reaction force from acting on the gear motor components; this can effectively decrease the energy consumption of and / or wear on the gear motor components.

[0030] For example, an ice making device (e.g., ice maker, ice making apparatus) can include an ice making module, the ice making module includes a chamber, an auger, an extruder, a gear motor assembly and an evaporation tube. The first end of the chamber can be fixedly connected with the gear motor assembly, the second end of the chamber can be fixedly connected with the extruder, the extruder can be provided with an ice outlet, the auger can be arranged in the inner cavity of the ice barrel, and the first end of the auger can be fixedly connected with the output end of the gear motor assembly. The evaporation tube can be wrapped around the outer wall of the ice barrel, and also includes a screw, a bearing and an ice shaper. The first end of the screw can be fixed with the bearing. After the second end of the screw passes through the ice shaper and the extruder, it can be fixed with the second end of the auger. When the auger drives ice material through the extruder, the auger will have a downward reaction force. Because the first end of the rod can be fixedly connected with the bearing, and the second end of the rod can be fixedly connected with the second end of the auger, an upward pulling force can be given to the auger, so the downward pulling force of the auger acts on the rod and the bearing. The screw, the bearing, the ice shaper, the extruder and the auger can be fixed together so that the auger does not move downward when it can be rotated under tension. The outer wall of the auger can be provided with threads for ice scraping and ice squeezing.

[0031] In some implementations, a lower bracket can be arranged between the chamber and the gear motor assembly, and a lower shaft sleeve and a lower sealing ring are arranged between the lower bracket and the auger, and the output end of the gear motor assembly can be fixedly connected with the auger after passing through the lower bracket.An upper bracket can be arranged between the chamber and the extruder, and an upper shaft sleeve and an upper sealing ring are arranged between the upper bracket and the extruder. In this way, the system can have a more compact structure, which can effectively prevent the leakage of water in the chamber. At the same time, the downward pulling force of the auger when extruding the ice acts on the rod and the bearing, and does not squeeze the lower sealing ring, thus ensuring the sealing effect. The use of the sealing ring structure to replace the mechanical seal components of the existing systems can reduce structural complexity.

[0032] In some implementations, the lower bracket can be fixed and connected with the upper bracket. An upper sealing ring and an upper stop ring are arranged between the upper bracket and the chamber, and a lower sealing ring and a lower stop ring are arranged between the lower bracket and the chamber. This can allow the lower support and the upper support to be fixed at both ends of the chamber, allowing for a compact structure and effective sealing.

[0033] In some implementations, the lower bracket can be provided with a water inlet, and the water inlet can be communicated with the inner cavity of the chamber. The water can be transported to the inner cavity of the ice making bucket through the water inlet, and the inner wall of the ice making bucket can be formed under the action of the evaporation tube.

[0034] In some implementations, the outer sleeve of the evaporation tube can be provided with insulation foam; this can prevent the evaporation tube heat transfer energy loss through the insulation foam, and thus save the evaporation tube energy consumption.

[0035] In some implementations, the chamber can be a tubular ceramic chamber.

[0036] In some implementations, the bearing can be a planar thrust ball bearing.

[0037] In some implementations, the ice shaper can be provided with a limiting slot for limiting the first end of the screw and the bearing.

[0038] In some implementations, the ice shaper near one end of the extruder can be provided with an inclined surface part, and the inclined surface part can be squeezed on the ice outlet. The inclined surface of the ice shaper can be used to break the icicle (e.g., finger,member) extruded from the ice outlet of the ice squeezing ice outlet into granular ice (e.g., nuggets, crushed ice).

[0039] In some implementations, the auger and the chamber are set on the same axis, so the ice making effect can be better.

[0040] In some implementations, the extruder can be provided with a plurality of ice extractor ice outlets arranged in a circular shape. In this way, the ice extruding efficiency can be improved.

[0041] In some implementations, the working principle of ice making module can be as follows: when making ice, the water enters the chamber from the water inlet of the lower support, the refrigerant flows through the evaporation tube, the cold quantity can be transferred to the inner wall of the chamber to form the ice sheet on the inner wall, the deceleration motor assembly drives the auger to rotate, the thread of the auger will be scraped into the ice sheet and transported to the ice squeezing ice outlet of the extruder through the thread, and the ice sheet will be pushed upward and squeezed constantly. The inner diameter of the ice outlet can be small at the top and large at the bottom, and the slush can be constantly squeezed into icicles, which grow upward until they hit the slope of the ice shaper and break off to form granular ice.

[0042] In view of various implementations described herein, when ice can be extruded through the extruder, the auger can have a downward reaction force. Because the first end of the rod can be fixedly connected with the bearing, and the second end of the rod can be fixedly connected with the second end of the auger, an upward pulling force can be given to the auger, so the downward pulling force of the auger acts on the rod and the bearing. The bearing can limit the amount of the downward pulling force of the auger that acts on the gear motor assembly, effectively saving the energy consumption of the gear motor assembly and ensuring the sealing effect of the lower seal ring, allowing for reduced strength and cost of each part.10043] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the ice making device can include a chamber 3, an auger 4, an extruder 5, a gear motor assembly 7 and an evaporation tube 13. The first end of the ice making bucket 3 can be fixed with the gear motor assembly 7 to make a chamber. The second end can be fixedly connected with the extruder 5. The extruder 5 can be provided with an ice outlet 12, and the auger 4 can be arranged in the inner cavity of thechamber 3. The first end of the auger 4 can be fixedly connected with the output end of the gear motor assembly 7, the evaporation tube 13 can be wrapped around the outer wall of the chamber 3, and also includes the screw 1, the bearing 2 and the ice shaper 6, the first end of the screw 1 can be fixedly connected with the bearing 2, After the second end of the screw 1 passes through the ice shaper 6 and the extruder 5, it can be fixed to the second end of the auger 4. The ice can be extruded through the auger 4, which will give the auger 4 a downward reaction force due to the rod 1. One end can be fixed to the bearing 2, the second end of rod 1 can be fixed to the second end of the auger 4, giving the auger 4 an upward pull force, so the downward pulling force of the auger 4 acts on the rod 1 and the bearing 2. The bearing 2 is configured to handle thrust loads as a result of the ice making. For example, the bearing 2 limits the amount of the downward pulling force of the auger 4 that acts on the gear motor assembly, effectively saving the energy consumption of the gear motor assembly 7. More specifically, the screw 1, the bearing 2, the ice shaper 6, the extruder 5, and the auger 4 are fixed together so that the auger 4 does not move downward when it is rotated under tension. The bearing 2 extends axially between the first end of the rod 1 and the auger. The bearing 2 is disposed radially around the rod 1. The outer wall of the auger 4 can be provided with threads for ice scraping and ice squeezing.10044] In some implementations, a lower support 11 can be arranged between the chamber 3 and the gear motor assembly 7, and the lower support 11 can be arranged with the auger.

[0045] The lower shaft sleeve 21 and the lower sealing ring 9 are arranged between the auger 4, and the output end of the gear motor assembly 7 can be fixed with the auger 4 after passing through the lower support 11.10046] In some implementations, an upper bracket 10 can be arranged between the chamber 3 and the extruder 5, and an upper shaft sleeve can be arranged between the upper bracket 10 and the extruder 5 and upper seal ring 8. In this way, the ice making device can have a more compact structure and can effectively prevent the leakage of the water in the chamber 3. At the same time, the downward pull force of the auger 4 when extruding the ice acts on the rod 1 and the bearing 2, and does not squeeze the lower sealing ring 9, thus ensuring the sealing effect. The sealing ring structure can be used instead of conventional sealing components to reduce complexity.[0047'1 In some implementations, the lower support 11 can be fixedly connected with the upper support 10; The upper support 10 can be arranged between the chamber 3 and the extruder 5. The chamber upper sealing ring 19 and the upper stop ring 20, the lower sealing ring 22 and the lower stop are arranged between the lower support 11 and the chamber 3.

[0048] Systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure can avoid replacement of the lower support and the upper support, making the lower support and the upper support always fixed at both ends of the chamber, allowing for a compact structure and effective sealing.10049] In some implementations, the lower bracket 11 can be provided with a water inlet 16, which can be communicated with an inner cavity of the chamber 3. The water can be transported to the inner cavity of the chamber 3 through the water inlet 16 and the inner wall of the ice making bucket can be formed under the action of the evaporation tube 13. The inner wall of chamber 3 forms the ice sheet.

[0050] In some implementations, an outer sleeve of the evaporation tube 13 (e.g., evaporation pipe) can be provided with insulation foam 14; this can prevent the loss of heat exchange energy of the evaporation tube 13 through the insulation foam 14, thus saving the energy consumption of the evaporation tube 13.[00511 In some implementations, the chamber 3 can be a tubular ceramic chamber.[00521 In some implementations, the bearing 2 can be a planar thrust ball bearing(e.g., flat, nearly flat).

[0053] In some implementations, the ice shaper 6 can be provided with a limiting slot 18 for limiting the first end of a rod 1 and a bearing 2.1 054] In some implementations, one end of the ice shaper 6 near the ice extractor 5 can be provided with a bevel part 18, and the bevel part 18 can be connected with the ice extruder 5. The ice shaper 6 near one end of the extruder 5 can be provided with an inclined surface part, and the inclined surface part can be squeezed on the ice outlet. The inclined surface of the ice shaper 6 can be used to break the icicle (e.g., finger, member) extrudedfrom the ice outlet of the ice squeezing ice outlet into granular ice (e.g., nuggets, crushed ice).

[0055] In some implementations, the auger 4 and the chamber 3 are set on the same axis be, so the ice making effect can be better. In some implementations, the extruder 5 can be provided with a plurality of ice outlets 12 arranged in circular rings. In this way, the ice extruding efficiency can be improved. The working principle of the ice making module can be as follows: when making ice, the water enters the chamber 3 from the water inlet 16 of the lower support 11, and the refrigerant flows through the evaporation tube 13, the cold quantity can be transferred to the inner wall of the chamber to form the ice sheet on the inner wall, and the gear motor assembly 7 drives the auger 4 to rotate, and the thread of the auger 4 scrapes the ice into a slush and delivers it through the thread to the ice outlet of the extruder 5. The ice sheet will be pushed upwards and squeezed constantly. The inner diameter of the ice outlet 12 can be small at the top and large at the bottom, and the ice can be gradually squeezed into an icicle (e.g., finger, member). The icicle grows upward until it hits the slope of ice shaper 6 and breaks off to form granular ice.

[0056] As depicted in FIGS. 1-4, an ice making device can include one or more of:I, rod; 2, bearing; 3, chamber; 4. auger; 5. extruder; 6. Ice scraper; icicles (e.g., fingers, members); 7, gear motor assembly; 8, sealing ring; 9, lower seal ring; 10. Upper support;I I. Lower bracket; 12. Ice squeeze hole; 13, evaporation tube; 14, insulation foam; 15. Upper shaft sleeve; 16, water inlet; 17, bevel part; 18, limit slot; 19. Sealing ring on ice bucket; 20. Top stop ring; 21. Lower shaft sleeve; 22, ice bucket seal ring; 23, lower stop ring.

[0057] References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. The orientation of various elements can differ according to other illustrative implementations, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure. References herein to the order of elements (e.g., “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” “fifth,” “sixth,” “seventh”) are merely used for ease of description relative to each element in the FIGURES.10058] While operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, such operations are not required to be performed in the particular order shown or in sequentialorder, and all illustrated operations are not required to be performed. Actions described herein can be performed in a different order.

[0059] Having now described some illustrative implementations, it is apparent that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example. In particular, although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, those acts, and those elements can be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. Acts, elements and features discussed in connection with one implementation are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other implementations.|0060] The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including”, “comprising”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, “characterized by”, “characterized in that” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, equivalents thereof, and additional items, as well as alternate implementations consisting of the items listed thereafter exclusively. In one implementation, the systems and methods described herein consist of one, each combination of more than one, or all of the described elements, acts, or components.[00611 Any references to implementations or elements or acts of the systems and methods herein referred to in the singular can also embrace implementations including a plurality of these elements, and any references in plural to any implementation or element or act herein can also embrace implementations including only a single element. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements to single or plural configurations. References to any act or element being based on any information, act or element can include implementations where the act or element is based at least in part on any information, act, or element.

[0062] Any implementation disclosed herein can be combined with any other implementation or implementation, and references to “an implementation,” “some implementations,” “one implementation” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation may be included in at least one implementation orimplementation. Such terms as used herein are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Any implementation may be combined with any other implementation, inclusively or exclusively, in any manner consistent with the aspects and implementations disclosed herein.

[0063] References to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. References to at least one of a conjunctive list of terms may be construed as an inclusive OR to indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. For example, a reference to “at least one of ‘A’ and ‘B’” can include only ‘A’, only ‘B’, as well as both ‘A’ and ‘B’. Such references used in conjunction with “comprising” or other open terminology can include additional items.[0064| Where technical features in the drawings, detailed description or any claim are followed by reference signs, the reference signs have been included to increase the intelligibility of the drawings, detailed description, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence have any limiting effect on the scope of any claim elements. Modifications of described elements and acts such as variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations can occur without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed can be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements can be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions can be altered or varied. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions can also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the disclosed elements and operations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0065] The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and program products on any machine-readable media for accomplishing various operations. The implementations of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwired system. Implementations within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.[0066| Systems and methods described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the characteristics thereof. Further relative parallel, perpendicular, vertical or other positioning or orientation descriptions include variations within + / - 10% or + / -10 degrees of pure vertical, parallel or perpendicular positioning. References to “approximately,” “about” “substantially” or other terms of degree include variations of + / -10% from the given measurement, unit, or range unless explicitly indicated otherwise. Coupled elements can be electrically, mechanically, or physically coupled with one another directly or with intervening elements. Scope of the systems and methods described herein is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are embraced therein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An ice maker, comprising: an auger disposed in a chamber; an extruder coupled with the auger; an ice shaper to modify a shape of ice, driven by the auger through the extruder, responsive to the ice contacting the ice shaper; a rod comprising a first end coupled with the ice shaper and a second end coupled with the auger; and a bearing between the rod and the ice shaper.

2. The ice maker of claim 1 wherein a first end of the rod is coupled to the bearing and a second end of the rod is coupled to an end of the auger.

3. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the rod extends through the ice shaper.

4. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the bearing is a planar thrust ball bearing.

5. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein a downward reaction force of the auger acts on the rod and the bearing.

6. The ice maker of claim 5, wherein the bearing is to limit an amount of the downward reaction force of the auger that acts on a gear assembly that couples a motor with the auger.

7. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the rod, the bearing, the ice shaper, the extruder, and the auger are fixed together.

8. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein an output end of the chamber is coupled to a gear motor assembly.

9. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the extruder and the ice shaper are centered on an axis, the extruder to direct the ice in a direction along the axis towards the ice shaper.

10. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the ice shaper comprises an inclined surface, the inclined surface positioned at a distance from the extruder.

11. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising: a lower support disposed between the chamber and a gear motor assembly; and a lower shaft sleeve and a lower sealing ring, the lower shaft sleeve and the lower sealing ring disposed between the lower support and the auger.

12. The ice maker of claim 11, further comprising: an upper support disposed between the chamber and the extruder; and an upper shaft sleeve and an upper sealing ring, the upper shaft sleeve and the upper sealing ring disposed between the upper support and the extruder.

13. The ice maker of claim 12, wherein the lower support is coupled to the upper support.

14. The ice maker of claim 11, wherein the lower support comprises a water inlet, the water inlet coupled with an inner wall of the chamber.

15. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising an evaporation pipe, the evaporation pipe surrounded by thermal insulation foam.

16. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the extruder comprises a plurality of holes, the plurality of holes configured in a ring shape.

17. An ice making system, comprising: an auger to drive ice from a chamber through an extruder; an ice shaper to modify a shape of ice, responsive to the ice contacting the ice shaper; a rod comprising a first end coupled with the ice shaper and a second end coupled with the auger; and a bearing between the rod and the ice shaper such that a downward reaction force of the auger acts on the rod and the bearing.

18. The ice making system of claim 17, wherein the downward reaction force of the auger does not act on a gear motor assembly.

19. An ice maker, comprising: an auger disposed in a chamber configured to rotate and scrape an inner wall of the chamber; an extruder, through which ice is directed, coupled with the auger; an ice shaper to modify a shape of ice, driven by the auger through the extruder, responsive to the ice contacting the ice shaper; a rod comprising a first end coupled with the ice shaper and a second end coupled with the auger; a bearing between the rod and the ice shaper; and a gear motor assembly.

20. The ice maker of claim 19, wherein a downward reaction force of the auger acts on the rod and the bearing.

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