Patent Publication Number: US-11656017-B2

Title: Ice maker

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure pertains to an ice maker of the type that includes a distributor that directs water to flow along a freeze plate, which freezes the water into ice. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Ice makers are well-known and in extensive commercial and residential use. One type of ice maker includes an evaporator assembly that comprises a freeze plate which defines a plurality of ice molds in a two-dimensional vertical grid. Refrigerant tubing extends along the back of the freeze plate and forms an evaporator configured to cool the freeze plate. A water distributor is positioned above the freeze plate to direct water onto the freeze plate that freezes into ice in the molds. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, an ice maker comprises a freeze plate defining a plurality of molds in which the ice maker is configured to form ice. The freeze plate has a front defining open front ends of the molds, a back defining enclosed rear ends of the molds, a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a height, and a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart along a width. A distributor adjacent the top portion of the freeze plate is configured to direct water imparted through the distributor to flow downward along the front of the freeze plate along the width of the freeze plate. The distributor comprises a first end portion and a second end portion spaced apart along a width of the distributor. A bottom wall extends widthwise from the first end portion to the second end portion and extends generally forward from an upstream end portion to a downstream end portion. The distributor is configured to direct the water imparted therethrough to flow in a generally forward direction from the upstream end portion to the downstream end portion. A weir extends upward from the bottom wall at a location spaced apart between the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion. The weir is configured so that the water flows across the weir as it flows along the bottom wall from the upstream end portion to the downstream end portion. The bottom wall comprises a ramp surface, immediately upstream of the weir, sloping upward in the generally forward direction. 
     In another aspect, an ice maker comprises a freeze plate defining a plurality of molds in which the ice maker is configured to form ice. The freeze plate has a front defining open front ends of the molds, a back defining enclosed rear ends of the molds, a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a height, and a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart along a width. A distributor adjacent the top portion of the freeze plate is configured to direct water imparted through the distributor to flow downward along the front of the freeze plate along the width of the freeze plate. The distributor comprises a first end portion and a second end portion spaced apart along a width of the distributor. A bottom wall extends widthwise from the first end portion to the second end portion and extends generally forward from an upstream end portion to a downstream end portion. The distributor is configured to direct the water imparted therethrough to flow in a generally forward direction from the upstream end portion to the downstream end portion. The downstream end portion of the bottom wall defines a downwardly curving surface tension curve. The downwardly curving surface tension curve is configured so that surface tension causes the water imparted through the distributor to adhere to the curve and be directed downward by the curve toward the top end portion of the freeze plate. 
     In another aspect, an ice maker comprises a freeze plate defining a plurality of molds in which the ice maker is configured to form ice. The freeze plate has a front defining open front ends of the molds, a back defining enclosed rear ends of the molds, a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a height, and a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart along a width. A distributor adjacent the top portion of the freeze plate is configured to direct water imparted through the distributor to flow downward along the front of the freeze plate along the width of the freeze plate. The distributor comprises a first end portion and a second end portion spaced apart along a width of the distributor. A bottom wall extends widthwise from the first end portion to the second end portion and extends generally forward from an upstream end portion to a downstream end portion. The distributor is configured to direct the water imparted therethrough to flow in a generally forward direction from the upstream end portion to the downstream end portion. An overhanging front wall has a bottom edge margin spaced apart above the bottom wall adjacent the downstream end portion thereof such that a flow restriction is defined between the bottom wall and the overhanging front wall. The flow restriction comprises a gap extending widthwise between the first end portion and the second end portion of the distributor and is configured to restrict a rate at which water flows through the flow restriction to the downstream end portion of the bottom wall. 
     In yet another aspect, an ice maker comprises a freeze plate defining a plurality of molds in which the ice maker is configured to form ice. The freeze plate has a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a height and a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart along a width. A distributor extends along the width of the freeze plate adjacent the top portion of the freeze plate. The distributor is configured to direct water imparted through the distributor to flow from the top portion of the freeze plate to the bottom portion along the width of the freeze plate. The distributor comprises a first distributor piece and a second distributor piece. The second distributor piece is configured to be releasably coupled to the first distributor piece without separate fasteners to form the distributor. 
     In another aspect, an ice maker comprises a freeze plate defining a plurality of molds in which the ice maker is configured to form ice. The freeze plate has a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a height and a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart along a width. A distributor adjacent the top portion of the freeze plate has a width extending along the width of the freeze plate. The distributor has an inlet and an outlet and defining a distributor flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet. The distributor is configured to direct water imparted through the distributor along the distributor flow path and discharge the water from the outlet such that the water flows from the top portion of the freeze plate to the bottom portion along the width of the freeze plate. The distributor comprises a first distributor piece and a second distributor piece. The second distributor piece is releasably coupled to the first distributor piece to form the distributor. The first distributor piece comprises a bottom wall defining a groove extending widthwise and the second distributor piece comprising a generally vertical weir defining a plurality of openings spaced apart along the width of the distributor. The weir has a free bottom edge margin received in the groove such that water flowing along the distributor flow path is inhibited from flowing through an interface between the bottom edge margin of the weir and the bottom wall and is directed to flow across the weir through the plurality of openings. 
     In another aspect, an ice maker comprises an evaporator assembly comprising a freeze plate defining a plurality of molds in which the evaporator assembly is configured to form pieces of ice. The freeze plate has a front defining open front ends of the molds and a back extending along closed rear ends of the molds. An evaporator housing has a back and defines an enclosed space between the back of the freeze plate and the back of the evaporator housing. Refrigerant tubing is received in the enclosed space. Insulation substantially fills the enclosed space around the refrigerant tubing. A water system is configured to supply water to the freeze plate such that the water forms into ice in the molds. The evaporator housing includes a distributor piece formed from a single piece of monolithic material. The distributor piece is in direct contact with the insulation and has a bottom wall. The water system is configured direct the water to flow along the bottom wall as the water is supplied to the freeze plate. 
     In still another aspect, an ice maker comprises an evaporator assembly comprising a freeze plate defining a plurality of molds in which the evaporator assembly is configured to form pieces of ice. The freeze plate has a front defining open front ends of the molds, a back extending along closed rear ends of the molds, a top wall formed from a single piece of monolithic material and defining a top end of at least one of the molds, and at least one stud joined to the top wall and extending upward therefrom. A distributor is configured to distribute water imparted through the distributor over the freeze plate so that the water forms into ice in the molds. The distributor comprises a distributor piece formed from a single piece of monolithic material. The distributor piece comprises a bottom wall defining a portion of a flow path along which the distributor directs water to flow through the distributor. A nut is tightened onto each stud against the distributor piece to directly mount the distributor on the freeze plate. 
     In another aspect, a distributor for receiving water imparted through the distributor and directing the water to flow along a freeze plate of an ice maker so that the water forms into ice on the freeze plate comprises a rear wall adjacent an upstream end of the distributor, a bottom wall extending forward from the rear wall to a front end portion adjacent a downstream end of the distributor, and a tube protruding rearward from the rear wall. The rear wall has an opening immediately above the bottom wall through which the tube fluidly communicates with the distributor. The bottom wall comprises a rear section that slopes downward to the rear wall and a front section that slopes downward to the front end portion. 
     In another aspect, an ice maker comprises an enclosure. A freeze plate is received in the enclosure. The freeze plate comprises a back wall and a front opposite the back wall. The freeze plate further comprises a perimeter wall extending forward from the back wall. The perimeter wall comprises a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion, a first side wall portion, and a second side wall portion. The first side wall portion and the second side wall portion define a width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate further comprises a plurality of heightwise divider plates extending from lower ends connected to the bottom wall portion to upper ends connected to the top wall portion and a plurality of widthwise divider plates extending from first ends connected to the first side wall portion to second ends connected to the second side wall portion. The heightwise divider plates and the widthwise divider plates are interconnected to define a plurality of ice molds inboard of the perimeter wall. Each widthwise divider plate defines a plurality of molds immediately above the divider plate and a plurality of molds immediately below the divider plate. Each widthwise divider plate slopes downward and forward away from the back wall of the freeze plate such that included angle between an upper surface of each widthwise divider plate and the back wall is greater than 90° and less than 180°. A distributor is configured to direct water imparted through the distributor to flow downward along the freeze plate along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate is supported in the enclosure so that the back wall of the freeze plate slants forward. 
     Other aspects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic illustration of an ice maker; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective of the ice maker supported on an ice bin; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective of a subassembly of the ice maker including a support, an evaporator assembly, a sump, a mounting plate, and a sensor fitting; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective of the subassembly of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a side elevation of the subassembly of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective of a freeze plate of the ice maker; 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded perspective of the freeze plate; 
         FIG.  8    is a vertical cross section of the freeze plate; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective of the evaporator assembly; 
         FIG.  10    is a side elevation of the evaporator assembly; 
         FIG.  11    is a top plan view of the evaporator assembly; 
         FIG.  12    is an exploded perspective of the evaporator assembly; 
         FIG.  13    is a rear elevation of the evaporator assembly with back wall removed to reveal serpentine evaporator tubing; 
         FIG.  14    is a cross section of the evaporator assembly taken in the plane of line  14 - 14  of  FIG.  11   ; 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective of the evaporator assembly with a top distributor piece removed and showing a bottom distributor piece/top evaporator housing piece and components associated therewith exploded away from the remainder of the evaporator assembly; 
         FIG.  16    is an enlarged vertical cross section of the components of the evaporator assembly shown in  FIG.  15    taken in a plane that passes through a stud of the freeze plate; 
         FIG.  17    is vertical cross section of the evaporator assembly mounted on the support; 
         FIG.  18    is a perspective of a distributor of the evaporator assembly; 
         FIG.  19    is an exploded perspective of the distributor; 
         FIG.  20    is a vertical cross section of the distributor; 
         FIG.  20 A  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG.  20   ; 
         FIG.  21    is a top perspective of the bottom distributor piece; 
         FIG.  22    is a bottom perspective of the bottom distributor piece; 
         FIG.  23    is a vertical cross section similar to  FIG.  15    except that the plane of the cross section passes through the center of an inlet tube of the bottom distributor piece; 
         FIG.  24    is an enlarged perspective of an end portion of the bottom distributor piece; 
         FIG.  25    is a perspective of the top distributor piece; 
         FIG.  26    is a bottom plan view of the top distributor piece; 
         FIG.  27    is a rear elevation of the top distributor piece; 
         FIG.  28    is an enlarged perspective of an end portion of the top distributor piece; 
         FIG.  29    is a perspective of the evaporator assembly with the top distributor piece spaced apart in front of the bottom distributor piece; 
         FIG.  30    is a vertical cross section of the subassembly of  FIG.  3    received in a schematically illustrated ice maker enclosure, wherein the plane of the cross section is immediately inboard of a right side wall portion of a vertical side wall of the support as shown in  FIG.  3    and wherein the top distributor piece is shown in a removed position outside of the enclosure; 
         FIG.  31    is an enlarged horizontal cross section of an end portion of the distributor looking downward on a plane that passes through an elongate tongue of the bottom distributor piece received in an elongate groove of the bottom distributor piece; and 
         FIG.  32    is a vertical cross section of the distributor taken in a plane that passes through a segmented weir. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , one embodiment of an ice maker is generally indicated at reference number  10 . This disclosure details exemplary features of the ice maker  10  that can be used individually or in combination to enhance ice making uniformity, ice harvesting performance, energy efficiency, assembly precision, and/or accessibility for repair or maintenance. One aspect of the present disclosure pertains to an evaporator assembly that includes an evaporator, a freeze plate, and a water distributor. As will be explained in further detail below, in one or more embodiments, the parts of the evaporator assembly are integrated together into a single unit. In certain embodiments, the water distributor includes a configuration of water distribution features that provides uniform water flow along the width of the freeze plate. In an exemplary embodiment, the water distributor is configured to provide ready access to the interior of the distributor for repair or maintenance. In one or more embodiments, the evaporator assembly is configured to mount the freeze plate within the ice maker in an orientation that reduces the time it takes to passively harvest ice using gravity and heat. Other aspects and features of the ice maker  10  will also be described hereinafter. Though this disclosure describes an ice maker that combines a number of different features, it will be understood that other ice makers can use any one or more of the features disclosed herein without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
     The disclosure begins with an overview of the ice maker  10 , before providing a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of an evaporator assembly. 
     I. Refrigeration System 
     Referring  FIG.  1   , a refrigeration system of the ice maker  10  includes a compressor  12 , a heat rejecting heat exchanger  14 , a refrigerant expansion device  18  for lowering the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant, an evaporator assembly  20  (broadly, an ice formation device), and a hot gas valve  24 . As shown, the heat rejecting heat exchanger  14  may comprise a condenser for condensing compressed refrigerant vapor discharged from the compressor  12 . In other embodiments, for example, in refrigeration systems that utilize carbon dioxide refrigerants where the heat of rejection is trans-critical, the heat rejecting heat exchanger is able to reject heat from the refrigerant without condensing the refrigerant. The illustrated evaporator assembly  20  integrates an evaporator  21  (e.g., serpentine refrigerant tubing), a freeze plate  22 , and a water distributor  25  into one unit, as will be described in further detail below. Hot gas valve  24  is used, in one or more embodiments, to direct warm refrigerant from the compressor  15  directly to the evaporator  21  to remove or harvest ice cubes from the freeze plate  22  when the ice has reached the desired thickness. 
     The refrigerant expansion device  18  can be of any suitable type, including a capillary tube, a thermostatic expansion valve or an electronic expansion valve. In certain embodiments, where the refrigerant expansion device  18  is a thermostatic expansion valve or an electronic expansion valve, the ice maker  10  may also include a temperature sensor  26  placed at the outlet of the evaporator tubing  21  to control the refrigerant expansion device  18 . In other embodiments, where the refrigerant expansion device  18  is an electronic expansion valve, the ice maker  10  may also include a pressure sensor (not shown) placed at the outlet of the evaporator tubing  21  to control the refrigerant expansion device  19  as is known in the art. In certain embodiments that utilize a gaseous cooling medium (e.g., air) to provide condenser cooling, a condenser fan  15  may be positioned to blow the gaseous cooling medium across the condenser  14 . A form of refrigerant cycles through these components via refrigerant lines  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c ,  28   d.    
     II. Water System 
     Referring still to  FIG.  1   , a water system of the illustrated ice maker  10  includes a sump assembly  60  that comprises a water reservoir or sump  70 , a water pump  62 , a water line  63 , and a water level sensor  64 . The water system of the ice maker  10  further includes a water supply line (not shown) and a water inlet valve (not shown) for filling sump  70  with water from a water source (not shown). The illustrated water system further includes a discharge line  78  and a discharge valve  79  (e.g., purge valve, drain valve) disposed thereon for draining water from the sump  70 . The sump  70  may be positioned below the freeze plate  22  to catch water coming off of the freeze plate such that the water may be recirculated by the water pump  62 . The water line  63  fluidly connects the water pump  62  to the water distributor  25 . During an ice making cycle, the pump  62  is configured to pump water through the water line  63  and through the distributor  25 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the distributor  25  includes water distribution features that distribute the water imparted through the distributor evenly across the front of the freeze plate  22 . In an exemplary embodiment, the water line  63  is arranged in such a way that at least some of the water can drain from the distributor through the water line and into the sump when ice is not being made. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the water level sensor  64  comprises a remote air pressure sensor  66 . It will be understood, however that any type of water level sensor may be used in the ice maker  10  including, but not limited to, a float sensor, an acoustic sensor, or an electrical continuity sensor. The illustrated water level sensor  64  includes a fitting  68  that is configured to couple the sensor to the sump  70  (see also  FIG.  4   ). The fitting  68  is fluidly connected to a pneumatic tube  69 . The pneumatic tube  69  provides fluid communication between the fitting  68  and the air pressure sensor  66 . Water in the sump  70  traps air in the fitting  68  and compresses the air by an amount that varies with the level of the water in the sump. Thus, the water level in the sump  70  can be determined using the pressure detected by the air pressure sensor  66 . Additional details of exemplary embodiments of a water level sensor comprising a remote air pressure sensor are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0054043, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the sump assembly  60  further comprises a mounting plate  72  that is configured to operatively support both the water pump  62  and the water level sensor fitting  68  on the sump  70 . An exemplary embodiment of a mounting plate  72  is shown in  FIG.  4   . As described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/746,828, filed Jan. 18, 2020, entitled ICE MAKER, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, the mounting plate  72  may define an integral sensor mount  74  for operatively mounting sensor fitting  68  on the sump  70  at a sensing position at which the water level sensor  64  is operative to detect the amount of water in the sump. The mounting plate  72  may also define a pump mount  76  for mounting the water pump  62  on the sump  70  for pumping water from the sump through the water line  63  and the distributor  25 . Each of the sensor mount  74  and the pump mount  76  may include locking features that facilitate releasably connecting the respective one of the water level sensor  64  and the water pump  62  to the sump  70 . 
     III. Controller 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , the ice maker  10  may also include a controller  80 . The controller  80  may be located remote from the ice making device  20  and the sump  70  or may comprise one or more onboard processors, in one or more embodiments. The controller  80  may include a processor  82  for controlling the operation of the ice maker  10  including the various components of the refrigeration system and the water system. The processor  82  of the controller  80  may include a non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to cause the processor to perform a process. The processor  82  may be, for example, a commercially available microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a combination of ASICs, which are designed to achieve one or more specific functions, or enable one or more specific devices or applications. In certain embodiments, the controller  80  may be an analog or digital circuit, or a combination of multiple circuits. The controller  80  may also include one or more memory components (not shown) for storing data in a form retrievable by the controller. The controller  80  can store data in or retrieve data from the one or more memory components. 
     In various embodiments, the controller  80  may also comprise input/output (I/O) components (not shown) to communicate with and/or control the various components of ice maker  10 . In certain embodiments, for example, the controller  80  may receive inputs such as, for example, one or more indications, signals, messages, commands, data, and/or any other information, from the water level sensor  64 , a harvest sensor for determining when ice has been harvested (not shown), an electrical power source (not shown), an ice level sensor (not shown), and/or a variety of sensors and/or switches including, but not limited to, pressure transducers, temperature sensors, acoustic sensors, etc. In various embodiments, based on those inputs for example, the controller  80  may be able to control the compressor  12 , the condenser fan  15 , the refrigerant expansion device  18 , the hot gas valve  24 , the water inlet valve (not shown), the discharge valve  79 , and/or the water pump  62 , for example, by sending, one or more indications, signals, messages, commands, data, and/or any other information to such components. 
     IV. Enclosure/Ice Bin 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , one or more components of the ice maker  10  may be stored inside of an enclosure  29  of the ice maker  10  that defines an interior space. For example, portions or all of the refrigeration system and water system of the ice maker  10  described above can be received in the interior space of the enclosure  29 . In the illustrated embodiment, the enclosure  29  is mounted on top of an ice storage bin assembly  30 . The ice storage bin assembly  30  includes an ice storage bin  31  having an ice hole (not shown) through which ice produced by the ice maker  10  falls. The ice is then stored in a cavity  36  until retrieved. The ice storage bin  31  further includes an opening  38  which provides access to the cavity  36  and the ice stored therein. The cavity  36 , ice hole (not shown), and opening  38  are formed by a left wall  33   a , a right wall  33   b , a front wall  34 , a back wall  35  and a bottom wall (not shown). The walls of the ice storage bin  31  may be thermally insulated with various insulating materials including, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open- or closed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene or polyurethane, etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored in the ice storage bin  31 . A door  40  can be opened to provide access to the cavity  36 . 
     The illustrated enclosure  29  is comprised of a cabinet  50  (broadly, a stationary enclosure portion) and a door  52  (broadly, a movable or removable enclosure portion). In  FIG.  2   , the door  40  of the ice storage bin assembly  30  is raised so that it partially obscures the ice maker door  52 . The door  52  is movable with respect to the cabinet  50  (e.g., on a hinge) to selectively provide access to the interior space of the ice maker  10 . Thus, a technician may open the door  52  to access the internal components of the ice maker  10  through a doorway (not shown; broadly, an access opening) as required for repair or maintenance. In one or more other embodiments, the door may be opened in other ways, such as by removing the door assembly from the cabinet. 
     V. Internal Support 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 - 5   , the illustrated ice maker  10  comprises a one-piece support  110  that is configured to support several components of the ice maker inside the enclosure  29 . For example, the illustrated support  110  is configured to support the sump  70 , the mounting plate  72 , and the evaporator assembly  20  at very precise positions to limit the possibility of misplacement of these components. The inventors have recognized that ice maker control schemes that use water level as a control input require accurate placement of the water level sensor in the sump. If the position of the water level sensor deviates from the specified position by even a small amount (e.g., millimeters or less), the control scheme can be disrupted. The inventors have further recognized that the aggregated dimensional tolerances of the parts of conventional assemblies for mounting internal ice maker components can lead to misplacement. Still further, the inventors have recognized that precisely positioning an evaporator assembly in an ice maker can enhance gravity-driven ice making and ice-harvesting performance. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the support  110  includes a base  112  and a vertical support wall  114 . The illustrated vertical support wall comprises a first side wall portion  116 , a second side wall portion  118 , and a back wall portion  120  extending widthwise between the first and second side wall portions. A large opening  122  extends widthwise between the front end margins of the side wall portions  116 ,  118 . When the ice maker  10  is fully assembled, this opening  122  is located adjacent a front doorway  268  ( FIG.  30   ) of the enclosure  29  such that a technician can access the components supported on the vertical wall through the opening when the door  52  is open. 
     Each side wall portion  116 ,  118  includes an integral evaporator mount  124  (broadly, a freeze plate mount). The evaporator mounts  124  are configured to support the evaporator assembly  20  at an operative position in the ice maker  10 . Each side wall portion  116 ,  118  further comprises an integral mounting plate mount  126  that is spaced apart below the evaporator mount  124 . The mounting plate mount  126  is configured to support the mounting plate  72  so that the mounting plate can mount the water level sensor fitting  68  and the pump  62  at operative positions in the ice maker  10 . An integral sump mount  128  for attaching the sump  70  to the ice maker is spaced apart below the mounting plate mount  126  of each side wall portion  116 ,  118 . In  FIGS.  3 - 5   , only the mounts  124 ,  126 ,  128  defined by the right side wall portion  116  are shown, but it will be understood that the left side wall portion  118  has substantially identical, mirror-image mounts in the illustrated embodiment. 
     At least one of the side wall portions  116 ,  118  that defines the mounts  124 ,  126 ,  128  is formed from a single piece of monolithic material. For example, in one or more embodiments, the entire vertical support wall  114  is formed from a single monolithic piece of material. In the illustrated embodiment, the entire support  110 , including the base  112  and the vertical support wall  114 , is formed from a single piece of monolithic material. In one or more embodiments, the support  110  is a single molded piece. In the illustrated embodiment, the monolithic support  110  is formed by compression molding. Forming the support  110  from a single piece eliminates the stacking of tolerances that occurs in a multi-part support assembly and thereby increases the accuracy of the placement of the parts that are mounted on the support. 
     The evaporator mounts  124  are configured to mount the evaporator assembly  20  on the vertical support wall  114  in the enclosure  29  such that the freeze plate  22  slants forward. To accomplish this, each evaporator mount  124  in the illustrated embodiment comprises a lower connection point  130  and an upper connection point  132  forwardly spaced from the lower connection point. As shown in  FIG.  5   , the connection points  130 ,  132  are spaced apart along an imaginary line IL1 that is oriented at a forwardly slanted angle α with respect to a plane BP the back wall portion  120  of the vertical support wall  114 . In use, the ice maker  10  is positioned so that the plane BP of the back wall portion  120  is substantially parallel to a plumb vertical axis VA. As such, the imaginary line IL1 slants forward with respect to the plumb vertical axis VA at the angle α. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each of the upper and lower connection points  130 ,  132  comprises a screw hole. In use, the evaporator  20  is positioned between the side wall portions  116 ,  118 , and a screw (not shown) is placed through each screw hole into a corresponding pre-formed screw hole associated with the evaporator assembly  20 . As explained below, the pre-formed evaporator screw-holes are arranged so that, when they are aligned with the evaporator mount screw holes  130 ,  132 , the freeze plate  22  slants forward. It will be appreciated that an integral evaporator mount can include other types of connection points besides screw holes in one or more embodiments. For example, it is expressly contemplated that one or both of the screw holes  130 ,  132  could be replaced by an integrally formed stud or other structure that can be used to register and attach a freeze plate to the support at the proper position. 
     Each mounting plate mount  126  comprises a pair of generally horizontally spaced tapered screw holes  134  (broadly, connection points). Similarly, each sump mount  128  comprises a pair of generally horizontally spaced mounting holes  136  (broadly, connection points). Again, the holes  134 ,  136  of the mounting plate mount  126  and the sump mount  128  could be replaced with other types of integral connection points in one or more embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , in one or more embodiments, the sump  70  is generally sized and arranged for being received in the space between the side wall portions  116 ,  118  of the vertical support wall  114 . Each of a first end portion and a second end portion of the sump  70  that are spaced apart widthwise includes a pair of projections  138  at spaced apart locations. The projections  138  on each end portion of the sump  70  are configured to be received in the pair of mounting holes  136  defined by a respective one of the sump mounts  128 . The projections  138 , by being received in the mounting holes  136 , position the sump  70  at a precisely specified position along the height of the support  110 . In addition, a screw (not shown) is inserted through each mounting hole  136  and threaded into each projection  138  to fasten the sump  70  onto the support  110  at the specified position. 
     Like the sump  70 , the illustrated mounting plate  72  comprises a first end portion and a second end portion that are spaced apart widthwise. Each end portion of the mounting plate  114  defines a pair pre-formed screw holes that are configured to be aligned with the screw holes  134  of the corresponding mount  126  of the support  110 . Screws (broadly, mechanical fasteners; not shown) pass through the screw holes  134  and thread into the holes that are pre-formed in the mounting plate  72  to connect the mounting plate to the support  110  at a precisely specified position along the height of the support. In one or more embodiments, countersunk screws (e.g., screws with tapered heads) are used to connect the mounting plate  72  to the support  110 . The countersunk screws self-center in the tapered screw holes  134 . 
     It can be seen that the one-piece support  110  with integral mounts  124 ,  126 ,  128  can be used to ensure that the evaporator assembly  20 , the mounting plate  72 , and the sump  70  are supported in the ice maker  10  at the specified position. The support  110  can thereby position the freeze plate  22  to optimally balance desired performance characteristics, such as water distribution during ice making and ease/speed of ice-harvesting. Further, the support  110  can position the mounting plate  72  with respect to the sump  70  so that the pressure sensor fitting  68  mounted in the sensor mount  74  is precisely positioned with respect to the sump for accurately detecting the water level using the sensor  64 . Likewise, the support  110  positions the mounting plate  72  with respect to the sump  70  so that the pump  62  is precisely positioned for pumping water from the sump  70  through the ice maker  10  when the pump is mounted on the pump mount  76 . 
     VI. Freeze Plate 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6 - 8   , an exemplary embodiment of the freeze plate  22  will now be described, before turning to other components of the evaporator assembly  20  that attach the freeze plate to the support  110 . The freeze plate  22  defines a plurality of molds  150  in which the ice maker  10  is configured to form ice. The freeze plate  22  has a front defining open front ends of the molds  150 , a back defining enclosed rear ends of the molds, a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a height HF, and a right side portion (broadly, a first side portion) and a left side portion (broadly, a second side portion) spaced apart along a width WF. 
     Throughout this disclosure, when the terms “front,” “back,” “rear,” “forward,” “rearward,” and the like are used in reference to any part of the evaporator assembly  20 , the relative positions of the open front ends and enclosed rear ends of the freeze plate molds  150  provide a spatial frame of reference. For instance, the front of the freeze plate  22  that defines the open front ends of the molds  150  is spaced apart from the rear of the freeze plate in a forward direction FD ( FIG.  8   ), and the back of the freeze plate that extends along the enclosed rear ends of the molds is spaced apart from the front of the freeze plate in a rearward direction RD. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the freeze plate  22  comprises a pan  152  having a back wall  154  that defines the back of the freeze plate. Suitably, the pan  152  is formed from thermally conductive material such as copper, optionally having one or more surfaces coated with a food-safe material. As is known in the art, the evaporator tubing  21  is thermally coupled to the back wall  154  of the freeze plate  22  for cooling the freeze plate during ice making cycles and warming the freeze plate during harvest cycles. 
     The pan  152  further comprises a perimeter wall  156  that extends forward from the back wall  154 . The perimeter wall  156  includes a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion, a right side wall portion (broadly, a first side wall portion), and a left side wall portion (broadly, a second side wall portion). The side wall portions of the perimeter wall  156  define the opposite sides of the freeze plate  22 , and the top and bottom wall portions of the perimeter wall define the top and bottom ends of the freeze plate. The perimeter wall  156  could be formed from one or more discrete pieces that are joined to the back wall  154  or the pan  152 , or the entire pan could be formed from a single monolithic piece of material in one or more embodiments. Suitably, the perimeter wall  156  is sealed to the back wall  154  so that water flowing down the freeze plate  22  does not leak through the back of the freeze plate. 
     A plurality of heightwise and widthwise divider plates  160 ,  162  are secured to the pan to form a lattice of the ice cube molds  150 . In an exemplary embodiment, each heightwise divider plate  160  and each widthwise divider plate  162  is formed from a single piece of monolithic material. Each heightwise divider plate  160  has a right lateral side surface (broadly, a first lateral side surface) and a left lateral side surface (broadly a second lateral side surface) oriented parallel to the right lateral side surface. Each widthwise divider plate  162  has a bottom surface and a top surface oriented parallel to the bottom surface. The heightwise divider plates  162  extend from lower ends that are sealingly connected to the bottom wall portion of the perimeter wall  156  to upper ends that are sealingly connected to the top wall portion of the perimeter wall. The plurality of widthwise divider plates  160  similarly extend from first ends sealingly connected to the right side wall portion of the perimeter wall  156  to second ends sealingly connected to the left side wall portion of the perimeter wall. 
     Generally, the heightwise divider plates  160  and the widthwise divider plates  162  are interconnected in such a way as to define a plurality of ice molds  150  within the perimeter wall  156 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the heightwise divider plates  160  has a plurality of vertically-spaced, forwardly-opening slots  164 ; each of the widthwise diver plates has a plurality of horizontally-spaced, rearwardly-opening slots  166 ; and the heightwise and widthwise divider plates are interlocked at the slots  164 ,  166  to form the lattice. Suitably, each widthwise divider plate  162  defines a plurality of the molds  150  (e.g., at least three molds) immediately above the divider plate and a plurality of the molds (e.g., at least three molds) immediately below the divider plate. Each heightwise divider plate  160  likewise defines a plurality of the molds  150  (e.g., at least three molds) immediately to one lateral side of the divider plate and a plurality of the molds (e.g., at least three molds) immediately to the opposite lateral side of the divider plate. 
     Each of the divider plates  160 ,  162  has a front edge and a back edge. The back edges may suitably be sealingly joined to the back wall  154  of the freeze plate pan  152 . When the freeze plate  22  is assembled, the front edges of some or all of the divider plates  160 ,  162  (e.g., at least the widthwise divider plates) lie substantially on a front plane FP ( FIG.  8   ) of the freeze plate  22 . In one or more embodiments, the front plane FP is parallel to the back wall  154 . 
     A plurality of the ice molds  150  formed in the freeze plate  22  are interior ice molds having perimeters defined substantially entirely by the heightwise and widthwise divider plates  160 ,  162 . Others of the molds  150  are perimeter molds having portions of their perimeters formed by the perimeter wall  156  of the freeze plate pan  152 . Each interior ice mold  150  has an upper end defined substantially entirely by the bottom surface of one of the widthwise divider plates  162  and a lower end defined substantially entirely by the top surface of an adjacent one of the widthwise divider plates. In addition, each interior mold  150  has a left lateral side defined substantially entirely by a right lateral side surface of a heightwise divider plate  162  and a right lateral side defined substantially entirely by a left lateral side surface of the adjacent heightwise divider plate. 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , each widthwise divider plate  162  slopes downward and forward from the back wall  154  of the freeze plate  22  such that an included angle β between an upper surface of each widthwise divider plate and the back wall is greater than 90°. In one or more embodiments, the included angle β is at least 100° and less than 180°. It can be seen that the included angle between the top surface of each widthwise divider plate  16  and the front plane FP is substantially equal to the included angle β. Further, it can be seen that the included angle between the bottom surface of each horizontal divider plate  162  and the back wall  154  (and also the included angle between the bottom surface of each horizontal divider plate  162  and the front plane FP) is substantially equal to 180° minus β. The top and bottom portions of the perimeter wall  156  of the pan are oriented substantially parallel to the widthwise divider plates  162  in one or more embodiments. 
     A series of threaded studs  168  extend outward from the perimeter wall  156  at spaced apart locations around the perimeter of the freeze plate  22 . As will be explained in further detail below, the threaded studs  168  are used to secure the freeze plate  22  to an evaporator housing  170  that attaches the evaporator assembly  20  to the support  110 . The studs  168  are suitably shaped and arranged to connect the freeze plate  22  to the evaporator housing  170 , and further to the support  110 , such that the back wall  154  and front plane FP of the freeze plate slants forward when the freeze plate is installed in the ice maker  10 . 
     VII. Evaporator Housing 
     Referring to  FIGS.  9 - 14   , the evaporator housing  170  will now be described in greater detail. In general, the evaporator housing  170  is configured to support the evaporator tubing  21  and the freeze plate  22 . As will be explained in further detail below, the water distributor  25  is integrated directly into (i.e., forms a part of) the evaporator housing  170 . The evaporator housing  170  comprises a frame including a bottom piece  172 , a top piece  174 , and first and second side pieces  176  that together extend around the perimeter of the freeze plate  22 . Each of the bottom piece  172 , the top piece  174 , and the opposite side pieces  176  is formed from a single, monolithic piece of material (e.g., molded plastic), in one or more embodiments. The inner surfaces of the bottom piece  172 , the top piece  174 , and the opposite side pieces  176  may include a gasket (not shown) to aid in watertight sealing of the evaporator housing. The top piece  174  of the evaporator housing  170  forms a bottom piece (broadly, a first piece) of the two-piece distributor  25  in the illustrated embodiment. 
     A back wall  178  is supported on the assembled frame pieces  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178  in spaced apart relationship with the back wall  154  of the freeze plate  22 . As shown in  FIG.  14   , the evaporator housing  170  defines an enclosed space  180  between the back wall  154  of the freeze plate  22  and the back wall  178  of the housing. As explained in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0142932, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, in one or more embodiments, two discrete layers  182 ,  184  of insulation fills enclosed space  176  and thoroughly insulates the evaporator tubing  21 . 
     The bottom piece  172 , the top piece  174 , the opposite side pieces  176 , and/or the back wall  178  may have features that facilitate assembling them together to form the evaporator housing  170  in a variety of ways, including snap-fit features, bolts and nuts, etc. For example, each of the frame pieces  172 ,  174 ,  176  comprises stud openings  186  that are arranged to receive the studs  168  on the corresponding wall portion of the perimeter wall  156  of the freeze plate  22 . Some of the stud holes  186  are visible in  FIG.  12   . In one or more embodiments, the back wall  178  is joined to the assembled frame pieces  172 ,  174 ,  176  by ultrasonic welding. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  15  and  16   , one example of how the housing pieces  172 ,  174 ,  176  attach to the freeze plate  72  is shown in greater detail. Specifically, the top housing piece  174  is shown, but it will be understood that the other housing pieces may attach to the freeze plate in a like manner. The top piece  174  includes a front section that defines the stud openings  186 . In the illustrated embodiment, each stud opening  186  comprises a countersunk screw recess that includes an annular shoulder  192 . The top piece  174  is positioned atop the freeze plate  22  such that one stud  168  is received in each of the openings  186 . In the illustrated embodiment, a gasket  194  is located between the top of the freeze plate  22  and the bottom of the top piece  174  to seal the interface between the two parts. Nuts  196  are tightened onto each of the studs  168  to attach the top piece  174  to the freeze plate  22 . Further, because the housing top piece  174  forms the bottom piece of the distributor  25 , tightening the nuts  196  onto the studs also attaches the distributor directly to the freeze plate in the illustrated embodiment. Each nut  196  is tightened against the shoulder  192  of a respective countersunk recesses  186  (broadly, the nuts are tightened directly against the top housing piece  170  or bottom distributor piece). In the illustrated embodiment, caps  198  are placed over the tops of the countersunk recesses  186 . Suitably, the tops of the caps  198  are substantially flush with the surface of the piece  174  to present a smooth surface to water flowing through the distributor  25 . 
     VIII. Mounting of Evaporator Assembly so that Freeze Plate Slants Forward 
     Referring again to  FIGS.  9  and  10   , each of the side pieces  176  of the evaporator housing  170  include pre-formed lower and upper screw openings  200 ,  202  at vertically spaced apart locations. The upper and lower screw openings  200 ,  202  are configured to be positioned in registration with the screw openings  130 ,  132  of a respective side wall portion  116 ,  118  of the support  110 . When each side piece  176  is secured to the freeze plate  22  via the studs  168 , the screw openings  200 ,  202  are spaced apart along an imaginary line IL2 oriented substantially parallel to the back wall  154  and the front plane FP of the freeze plate  22 . Referring to  FIG.  17   , when screws (not shown) secure the evaporator assembly  20  to the support  110  via the aligned lower screw openings  130 ,  200  and the aligned upper screw openings  132 ,  202 , the imaginary line IL2 of the evaporator housing  170  is aligned with the forwardly slanted imaginary line IL1 of the support. 
     Thus, the screw openings  130 ,  132 ,  200 ,  202  position the freeze plate  22  on the support  110  so that the back wall  154  and front plane FP are oriented at the forwardly slanted angle α with respect to both the plumb vertical axis VA and the back plane BP of the support  110 . In one or more embodiments, the included angle α between the back wall  154 /front plane FP and the plumb vertical axis VA/back plane BP is at least about 1.5°. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the included angle α is about 2.0°. Accordingly, the illustrated ice maker  10  is configured to mount the freeze plate  22  in the enclosure  29  so that the back wall  154  slants forward. It will be appreciated that, though the one-piece support  110  and the side pieces  176  of the evaporator housing  170  are used to mount the freeze plate  22  in the slanted orientation in the illustrated embodiment, other ways of mounting a freeze plate may be used in other embodiments. 
     It is believed that conventional wisdom in the field of ice makers held that orienting a freeze plate with grid-type divider plates so that the back wall of the freeze plate slants forward would adversely affect the water distribution performance of the ice maker. However, because of the high-quality flow distribution produced by the water distributor  25 —achieved, for example, using one or more of the water distribution features described below—water is effectively distributed to the molds  150  even though the freeze plate  22  is mounted with the back wall  154  slanted forward. Further, the slanted freeze plate  22  enables the ice maker  10  to harvest ice quickly, using gravitational forces. In one or more embodiments, the ice maker  10  is configured to execute a harvest cycle by which ice is released from the molds  150  of the freeze plate  22 , wherein substantially the only forces imparted on the ice during the harvest cycle are gravitational forces. For example, the harvest cycle is executed by actuating the hot gas valve  24  to redirect hot refrigerant gas back to the evaporator tubing  21 , thereby warming the freeze plate  22 . The ice in the molds  150  begins to melt and slides forward down the sloping widthwise divider plates  162 , off the freeze plate, and into the ice bin  30 . In a harvest cycle in which substantially the only forces imparted on the ice are gravitational forces, no mechanical actuators, pressurized air jets, or the like are used to forcibly push the ice off of the freeze plate  22 . Rather, the slightly melted ice falls by gravity off of the freeze plate  22 . 
     IX. Water Distributor 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  9  and  18 - 19   , an exemplary embodiment of the distributor  25  will now be described. As explained above, the distributor comprises a bottom piece  174  that forms a top piece of the evaporator housing  170 . The distributor  25  further comprises a top piece  210  that releasably attaches to the bottom piece  174  to form the distributor. While the illustrated distributor  25  comprises a two-piece distributor that is integrated directly into the evaporator housing  170 , it will be understood that distributors can be formed from other numbers of pieces and attach to the ice maker in other ways in other embodiments. As shown in  FIG.  9   , the distributor  25  is mounted on the evaporator assembly  20  adjacent the top of the freeze plate  22  and has a width WD that extends generally along the width WF of the freeze plate  22 . The distributor  25  extends widthwise from a right end portion (broadly, first end portion) adjacent the right side of the freeze plate  22  to a left end portion (broadly, a second end portion) adjacent the left side of the freeze plate. 
     The distributor  25  has a rear, upstream end portion defining an inlet  212  and a front, downstream end portion defining an outlet  214 . The downstream end portion extends widthwise adjacent the top-front corner of the freeze plate  22 , and the upstream end portion extends widthwise at location spaced apart rearward from the downstream end portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet  212  formed by an opening at the upstream end portion of the distributor, and the outlet  214  is defined by an exposed lower front edge of the distributor  25 . In use, this edge is arranged so that water flows off of the edge onto the top portion of the freeze plate  22 . It is contemplated that the inlet and/or outlet could have other configurations in other embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG.  20   , the distributor  25  defines a distributor flow path FP extending generally forward from the inlet  212  to the outlet  214 . The distributor  25  is generally configured to direct water imparted through the distributor along the distributor flow path FP to discharge the water from the outlet  214  such that the water flows from the top portion of the freeze plate  22  to the bottom portion generally uniformly along the width WF of the freeze plate. As will be explained in further detail below, the distributor  25  includes a number of water distribution features that direct the water flowing along the flow path FP to be distributed generally uniformly along substantially the entire width of the distributor. 
     Each of the bottom and top pieces  174 ,  210  will now be described in detail before describing how the distributor  25  is assembled and used to distribute water over the freeze plate  22 . 
     IX.A. Distributor Bottom Piece 
     Referring to  FIGS.  21 - 22   , the bottom distributor piece  174  has a right end wall  216  (broadly, a first end wall) at the right end portion of the distributor  25 , a left end wall  218  (broadly, a second end wall) at the left end portion of the distributor, and a bottom wall  220  extending widthwise from the right end wall to the left end wall. Referring to  FIG.  23   , as explained above, the bottom distributor piece  174  is directly attached to the freeze plate  22 . Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the bottom distributor piece  174  is in direct contact with the insulation  184  that fills the enclosed space  180  between the back wall  154  of the freeze plate and the back wall  178  of the evaporator housing  170 . A front section  222  of the bottom wall  220  is located generally above the freeze plate  22  to mount the distributor piece  174  on the freeze plate as described above, and a rear section  224  of the bottom wall is located generally above the enclosed space  180  to directly contact the insulation  184 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the rear section  224  includes a rear leg  226  extending downward at a rear end portion of the bottom wall and a front leg  228  extending downward at a location forwardly spaced from the rear leg. Each of the front and rear legs  226 ,  224  extends widthwise between the right and left end walls  216 ,  218  of the bottom distributor piece  174 . The rear leg  226  is sealingly engaged with the back wall  178  of the evaporator housing  170  (e.g., the rear leg is ultrasonically welded to the back wall). The bottom wall  220  defines a lower recess  230  located between the front and rear legs  226 ,  228 . The lower recess  230  extends widthwise between the right and left end walls  216 ,  218  and forms the top of the enclosed space  180 . Thus a portion of the insulation  184  is received in the recess  230  and directly contacts the bottom distributor piece along three sides defining the recess. This is thought to thermal losses between the distributor and evaporator. 
     Referring to  FIG.  24   , each end wall  216 ,  218  in the illustrated embodiment comprises an elongate tongue  232  formed along an inner surface. Only the left end wall  218  is shown in  FIG.  24   , but it will be understood that the right end wall  216  has a substantially identical, mirror image tongue  232 . The elongate tongues  232  extend longitudinally in parallel, generally front-to-back directions. The elongate tongues  232  are generally configured to form male fittings that releasably couple the bottom distributor piece  174  to the top distributor piece  210  without the use of separate fasteners. Each elongate tongue  232  has a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart longitudinally from the front end portion. Between the front end portion and the rear end portion, each tongue comprises a slight depression  234 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  19  and  20   , the bottom wall  220  extends generally forward from a rear, upstream end portion to a front, downstream end portion. A rear wall  236  extends upward from the upstream end portion of the bottom wall  220 . The inlet opening  212  is formed in the rear wall  236 . In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet opening  236  is generally centered on the rear wall  236  at a spaced apart location between the end walls  216 ,  218 . Thus, broadly speaking, the inlet opening  212  through which water is directed into the interior of the distributor  25  is spaced apart widthwise between the first end portion and the second end portion of the distributor. During use, the distributor  25  is configured to direct the water to flow from the inlet opening  212  along the bottom wall  220  in a generally forward direction FD from the upstream end portion of the bottom wall to the downstream end portion. 
     An integral inlet tube  238  protrudes rearward from the rear wall  236  and fluidly communicates through the rear wall via the inlet opening  212 . The tube  238  slopes downward and rearward as it extends away from the rear wall  236 . The inlet tube  238  is configured to be coupled to the ice maker&#39;s water line  63  ( FIG.  1   ). Accordingly, when ice is being made, the pump  62  pumps water from the sump  70  through the water line  63  and into the distributor  25  via the integral inlet tube  238 . When ice is not being made, residual water in the distributor  25  can drain through the inlet tube  238 , down the water line  63 , and into the sump  70 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the rear section  224  of the bottom wall  220  slopes downward and rearward along substantially the entire width of the bottom wall. Conversely, the front section  222  of the bottom wall  220  slopes downward and forward along substantially the entire width. The front section  222  thus forms a runoff section along which water flows forward and downward toward the downstream end portion of the bottom wall  220 . Between the sloping rear section  224  and the sloping front section  222  the bottom wall comprises a middle section that includes a widthwise groove  240 . The widthwise groove is configured to sealingly receive a portion of the top distributor piece  210  when the top distributor piece is coupled to the bottom distributor piece  174 . In one or more embodiments, the groove  240  is convex in the widthwise direction (see  FIG.  33   ). An apex of the bottom wall  220  is located immediately upstream of the widthwise groove  240 . The rear section  224  of the bottom wall slopes downward from the apex to the rear wall  236 . As shown in  FIG.  23   , the rear section  224  of the bottom wall  220  includes a ramp surface  242  that defines the apex and a rearmost (or upstream-most) surface portion  244  (broadly, an upstream segment). The ramp surface  242  and the rearmost surface portion  244  extend widthwise from the right end wall  216  to the left end wall  218 . The ramp surface  242  slopes upward in the generally forward direction and downward in the generally rearward direction. The rearmost surface portion  244  slopes upward in the generally forward direction more gradually than the ramp surface  242 . The rearmost surface portion  244  is oriented at an angle of less than 180° with respect to the ramp surface  242  such that the rearmost surface portion slopes downward in the generally rearward direction at a more gradual angle than the ramp surface in the illustrated embodiment. 
     The bottom wall  220  is configured to passively drain water from the distributor  25  when the ice maker  10  stops making ice. Whenever the ice maker  10  stops making ice, residual water in the front portion of the distributor  25  flows forward along the sloping front section  222  (runoff section) of the bottom wall  220  and drains off of the outlet  214  onto the freeze plate  22 . Similarly, residual water in the rear portion of the distributor  25  flows rearward along the sloping rear section  224  and drains through the inlet opening  212  into the inlet tube  238 . The water directed forward flows downward along freeze plate  22  and then flows off the freeze plate into the sump  70 . The water directed rearward flows downward through the water line  63  into the sump  70 . Thus, the distributor  25  is configured to direct substantially all residual water into the sump  70  when the ice maker  10  is not making ice. Further, in one or more embodiments, the sump  70  is configured to drain substantially all of the water received therein through the discharge line  78  when the ice maker  10  is not in use. As can be seen, the shape of the bottom wall  220  of the distributor  25  facilitates total passive draining of the ice maker  10  when ice is not being made. 
     Referring to  FIG.  21   , a lateral diverter wall  246  extends upward from the bottom wall  220  along the rearmost surface portion  244 . The lateral diverter wall  246  is spaced apart between the rear wall  236  and the ramp surface  242 . The lateral diverter wall  246  extends upward from the bottom wall  220  to a top edge that is spaced apart below the top of the assembled distributor  25  (see  FIG.  20   ). The diverter wall  246  extends widthwise from a right end portion (broadly, a first end portion) spaced apart from the right end wall  216  to a left end portion (broadly, a second end portion) spaced apart from the left end wall  216 . The lateral diverter wall  246  is positioned in front of the inlet opening  214 . As water flows into the distributor  25  through the inlet opening, the lateral diverter wall  246  is configured to divert at least some of the water laterally outward, forcing the water to flow around the left and right ends of the lateral diverter wall. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  20 A and  23   , the downstream end portion of the bottom wall  220  defines a downwardly curving surface tension curve  247  that extends widthwise from the right end wall  216  to the left end wall  218 . The downwardly curving surface tension curve  247  is configured so that surface tension causes the water flowing along the bottom wall  220  to adhere to the curve and be directed downward by the curve toward the top end portion of the freeze plate  22 . In one or more embodiments, the surface tension curve  270  is at least partially defined by a radius R of at least 1 mm. In certain embodiments, the surface tension curve  270  is defined by a radius of less than 10 mm. In one or more embodiments, the surface tension curve  270  is defined by a radius in an inclusive range of from 1 mm to 3 mm. In an exemplary embodiment, the surface tension curve  270  is defined by a radius of 1.5 mm. 
     The bottom wall  220  further comprises a waterfall surface  249  extending generally downward from the surface tension curve  274  to a bottom edge that defines the outlet  214  of the distributor  212 . The waterfall surface  249  extends widthwise from the right end wall  216  to the left end wall  218 . The waterfall surface  249  generally is configured so that surface tension causes the water imparted through the distributor  25  to adhere to the waterfall surface and flow downward along the waterfall surface onto the top end portion of the freeze plate  22 . In one or more embodiments, the waterfall surface  249  slants forward in the ice maker  10  such that the waterfall surface is oriented generally parallel to the back wall  254  (and front plane FP) of the forwardly slanting freeze plate  22 . 
     IX.B. Top Distributor Piece 
     Referring to  FIGS.  25 - 27   , the top distributor piece  210  has a right end wall  250  (broadly, a first end wall) at the right end portion of the distributor  25  and a left end wall  252  (broadly, a second end wall) at the left end portion of the distributor. The width of the top distributor piece  210  is slightly less than the width of the bottom distributor piece  174  such that the top distributor piece is configured to nest between the end walls  216 ,  218  of the bottom distributor piece. 
     Referring to  FIG.  28   , each end wall  250 ,  252  in the illustrated embodiment comprises an elongate groove  254  along an outer surface. Only the left end wall  252  is shown in  FIG.  28   , but it will be understood that the right end wall  250  has a substantially identical, mirror image groove  254 . Generally, the elongate grooves  254  are configured to form complementary female fittings that mate with the male fittings formed by the elongate tongues  232  to releasably couple the top distributor piece  210  to the bottom distributor piece  174  without the use of separate fasteners. The elongate grooves  254  are generally parallel, extending longitudinally in a generally front-to back direction. The rear end portion of each elongate groove  254  defines a flared opening through which a respective elongate tongue  174  can pass into the groove. Each end wall further defines a protuberance  256  that protrudes into the groove at a location spaced apart between the front and rear ends of the groove  254 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS.  25 - 27   , the top distributor piece  210  comprises a top wall  258  that extends widthwise from the right end wall  250  to the left end wall  252 . The top wall  258  extends generally forward from a rear edge margin. A front wall  260  extends generally downward from a front end portion of the top wall to a free bottom edge margin. Two handle portions  262  extend forward from the front wall  260  in the illustrated embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  26 - 27   , the top distributor piece  210  further comprises a weir  264  that extends downward from the top wall  258  at a location spaced apart between the rear edge margin and the front wall  260 . The weir  264  extends widthwise from the right end wall  250  to the left end wall  252  and has a free bottom edge margin that is configured to be received in the widthwise groove  240  of the bottom distributor piece  174 . As shown in  FIG.  27   , the bottom edge margin of the weir  264  is convex in the widthwise direction. The weir  264  defines a plurality of openings  266  at spaced apart locations along the width WD of the distributor  25 . A bottom portion of the weir  264  below the openings  266  is configured to hold back water until the water level reaches the bottom of the openings. The openings  266  are configured so that water is passable through the openings as it is imparted through the distributor  25 . Adjacent openings are separated by portions of the weir  264 , such that the weir is configured to form a segmented weir that allows water to cross at spaced apart segments along the width WD of the distributor  25  (through the openings). 
     IX.C. Assembly of Two-Piece Distributor 
     Referring to  FIGS.  29 - 30   , to assemble the distributor  25 , the top distributor piece  210  is aligned in the widthwise direction with the space between the end walls  216 ,  218  of the bottom distributor piece  174 . Then the top piece  210  is moved in the rearward direction RD into the space between the rear walls  216 ,  218 , such that the elongate tongues  232  of the bottom piece are slidably received in the elongate grooves  254  of the top piece. 
     As seen in  FIG.  30   , the evaporator assembly  20  is suitably arranged in the interior of the ice maker enclosure  29  so that the top piece  210  can be installed/removed through an access opening  268  such as the doorway of the cabinet  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, the doorway  268  is spaced apart from the front of the evaporator assembly  20  in the forward direction FD. Further, the front opening  122  in the support  110  is located between the front of the evaporator assembly  20  and the doorway  268 . Thus, the top distributor piece  210  can be installed by moving the piece through the doorway  268  and the opening  122  in the rearward direction RD. The top distributor piece  210  is removed by moving the piece through the opening  122  and the doorway  268  in the forward direction FD. 
     Each tongue  232  is configured to be slidably received in the respective groove  254  as the top distributor piece  210  moves toward the bottom distributor piece  174  in the rearward direction RD. That is, the parallel longitudinal orientations of the tongues  232  and grooves  254  facilitate coupling the top distributor piece  210  to the bottom distributor piece  174  simply by moving the top distributor piece in the rearward direction RD. Thus, the complementary fittings formed by the tongues  232  and grooves  254  are configured to be engaged by movement of the top distributor piece  210  inward into the interior of the enclosure  29  from the doorway  268 . Further, the complementary fittings  232 ,  254  are configured to be disengaged simply by urging the top distributor piece  210  away from the bottom distributor piece  174  in the forward direction FD, toward the doorway  268 . When maintenance or repair of the distributor  25  is required, a technician merely opens the door  52  ( FIG.  2   ), grips the handles  262 , and pulls the top distributor piece  210  outward in the forward direction FD through the doorway  268 . To replace the top distributor piece  210 , the technician inserts the piece through the doorway  268 , aligns the open ends of the grooves  254  with the tongues  232 , and pushes the top piece rearward. The tongues  232  are then slidably received in the grooves  254 , and the complementary fittings thereby couple the top distributor piece  210  to the bottom distributor piece  174  without using any additional fasters such as screws or rivets. 
     Though the illustrated embodiment uses the bottom distributor piece&#39;s elongate tongues  232  as male fittings and the top distributor piece&#39;s elongate grooves  254  as complementary female fittings, other forms or arrangements of complementary integral fittings can be utilized to releasably couple one distributor piece to another in one or more embodiments. For example, it is expressly contemplated that in certain embodiments one or more male fittings could be formed on the top distributor piece and one or more complementary female fittings could be formed on the bottom distributor piece. It is further contemplated that the fittings could be formed at alternative or additional locations other than the end portions of the distributor. 
     Referring to  FIG.  31   , each pair of complementary fittings comprises a detent configured to keep the respective tongue  232  at a coupling position along the respective groove  254 . More specifically, the protuberances  256  formed in the grooves  254  are configured to be received in the depressions  234  of the tongues  232  to provide a detent when the complementary fittings are at the coupling position. The detent resists inadvertent removal of the top distributor piece  210  from the bottom distributor piece  174  and provides a tactile snap when the tongue  232  slides along the groove  254  to the coupling position. It will be appreciated that the detent can be formed in other ways in one or more embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  20  and  32   , as the top distributor piece  210  slides in the rearward direction RD to couple the distributor pieces together, the bottom edge margin of the weir  264  slides along the downstream (front) section  222  of the bottom wall  220 . When the top distributor piece  210  reaches the coupling position, the bottom edge margin of the weir  264  is received in the groove  240 . In one or more embodiments, placing the weir  264  in the groove  240  requires pushing the top piece  210  rearward past a slight interference with the bottom piece  174 . When the bottom edge margin of the weir  264  is received in the groove  240 , the weir sealingly engages the bottom wall  220  such that water flowing along the distributor flow path FP is inhibited from flowing through an interface between the bottom edge margin of the weir and the bottom wall and is instead directed to flow across the weir through the plurality of openings  266 . 
     The weir  264  extends widthwise along a middle section of the assembled distributor  25 , at a location spaced apart between the front wall  260  and the rear wall  236 . The only couplings between the top distributor piece  210  and the bottom distributor piece  174  at this middle section of the distributor  25  are the tongue-and-groove connections at the left and right end portions of the distributor. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the middle section of the distributor  25  includes couplings at the first and second end portions of the distributor that restrain upward movement of the top distributor piece  210  with respect to the bottom distributor piece  174 , but the distributor is substantially free of restraints against upward movement of the top distributor piece relative the bottom distributor piece along the middle section of the distributor at locations between these couplings. However, because the bottom edge margin of the weir  264  is convex and the groove  240  is correspondingly concave in the widthwise direction ( FIG.  32   ), even as the distributor pieces  174 ,  210  flex and deform during use, the seal between the weir and the bottom wall  220  is maintained and water is reliably directed to flow through of openings  266 , instead of downward through the interface between the weir and the bottom wall. 
     IX.D. Water Flow through Distributor 
     Referring to  FIG.  20   , the distributor  25  is configured to direct water to flow from the inlet  212  to the outlet  214  such that the water flows along the flow path FP between the bottom and top walls  220 ,  258  and then is directed downward along the surface tension curve  247  and the water fall surface  249  onto the top portion of the freeze plate  22 . Initially, the water flows generally in the forward direction from the inlet tube  238  through the inlet opening  212  in the rear wall  236 . The water then encounters the lateral diverter wall  246 . The lateral diverter wall  246  diverts at least some of the water laterally outward, such that the water continues forward through the widthwise gaps between the end portions of the lateral diverter wall and the end portions of the distributor  25 . 
     After flowing past the lateral diverter wall  246 , the water encounters the ramp surface  242  and the segmented weir  264 . The ramp surface  242  is immediately upstream of the weir  264  such that the water flowing along the bottom wall  220  of the distributor  25  must flow upward along the ramp surface before flowing across the weir. The weir  264  is configured so that the openings  266  are spaced apart above the bottom wall  220  (e.g., the bottom edges of the openings are spaced apart above the apex of the ramp surface  242 ). Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the water must flow upward along the ramp surface  242 , and upward along a portion of the height of the weir  264  before it can flow through the openings  266  across the weir. In one or more embodiments, the weir  264  is configured so that the portion of the distributor  25  upstream of the weir backfills with water to a level that generally corresponds with the height of the bottom edges of the openings  266  before the water begins to spill over the weir through the openings. In certain embodiments, the ramp surface  242  can direct at least some of the water flowing in the forward direction FD along the ramp surface to flow through the openings  266  before the upstream portion of the distributor  25  fills with water to a level that corresponds with the height of the bottom edges of the openings. After flowing across the weir  264 , the water drops downward onto the sloped front runoff section  222  of the bottom wall  220  and then flows downward and forward. 
     As can be seen, the upper rear edge of the front runoff section  222  is spaced apart below the openings  266  by a substantially greater distance than the apex of the ramp surface  242 . Thus, the water falls a relatively great distance from the segmented weir  264  onto the front runoff section  222 , which may create turbulence on impact, enhancing the distribution of water in the distributor  25 . In one or more embodiments, the vertical distance between the bottom edges of the openings  266  and the upper rear edge of the front runoff section  222  is at least 5 mm; e.g., at least 7 mm, e.g., at least 10 mm; e.g., about 12 to 13 mm. 
     Referring to  FIG.  20 A , in the assembled distributor  25 , the front wall  260  of the top distributor piece  210  forms an overhanging front wall that overhangs the bottom wall  220 . The bottom edge margin of the front wall  260  is spaced apart above the forwardly/downwardly sloping front runoff section  222  of the bottom wall  220  such that a flow restriction  270  is defined between the runoff section and the overhanging front wall. The flow restriction  270  comprises a gap (e.g., a continuous gap) that extends widthwise between the first end portion and the second end portion of the distributor  25 . In general, the flow restriction  270  is configured to restrict a rate at which water flows through the flow restriction toward the outlet  214 . In one or more embodiments, the flow restriction  270  has a height extending vertically from the runoff section  222  to the bottom of the front wall  260  of less than 10 mm, e.g., less than 7 mm; e.g., less than 5 mm; e.g., about 2 to 3 mm. 
     The water flowing forward along the front section  222  reaches the flow restriction  270 , and the flow restriction arrests or slows the flow of water. In one or more embodiments, the overhanging front wall  260  acts as a kind of inverted weir. The flow restriction  270  slows the flow of water to a point at which water begins to slightly backfill the front portion of the distributor  25 . This creates a small reservoir of water behind the flow restriction  270 . A metered amount of water flows continuously from this back-filled reservoir through the flow restriction  270  along substantially the entire width WD of the distributor  25 . 
     The surface tension curve  247 —and more broadly the downstream end portion of the bottom wall  220 —is forwardly proud of the overhanging front wall  260  and the flow restriction  270 . After the water flows (e.g., is metered) through the flow restriction  270 , the water adheres to the downwardly curving surface tension curve  247  as it flows generally forward. The surface tension curve  247  directs the water downward onto the waterfall surface  249 . The water adheres to the waterfall surface  249  and flows downward along it. Finally the water is discharged from the outlet edge  214  of the waterfall surface  249  onto the top end portion of the freeze plate  22 . 
     Because of water distribution features such as one or more of the lateral diverter wall  246 , the ramp surface  242 , the segmented weir  264 , the flow restriction  270 , the surface tension curve  247 , and the waterfall surface  249 , water is discharged from the outlet  214  at a substantially uniform flow rate along the width WD of the distributor  25 . The distributor  25  thus directs water imparted through the distributor to flow downward along the front of the freeze plate  22  generally uniformly along the width WF of the freeze plate during an ice making cycle. Moreover, the distributor  25  controls the dynamics of the flowing water so that the water generally adheres to the surfaces of the front of the freeze plate  22  as it flows downward. Thus, the distributor  25  enables ice to form at a generally uniform rate along the height HF and width WF of the freeze plate  22 . 
     X. Use 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , during use the ice maker  10  alternates between ice making cycles and harvest cycles. During each ice making cycle, the refrigeration system is operated to cool the freeze plate  22 . At the same time, the pump  62  imparts water from the sump  70  through the water line  63  and further through the distributor  25 . The distributor  25  distributes water along the top portion of the freeze plate  22  which freezes into ice in the molds  150  at a generally uniform rate along the height HF and width WF of the freeze plate  22 . When the ice reaches a thickness that is suitable for harvesting, the pump  62  is turned off and the hot gas valve  24  redirects hot refrigerant gas to the evaporator tubing  21 . The hot gas warms the freeze plate  22 , causing the ice to melt. The melting ice falls by gravity from the forwardly slanted freeze plate  22  into the bin  30 . When harvest is complete, the pump  62  can be reactivated to begin a new ice making cycle. But if additional ice is not required, the discharge valve  79  is opened. Residual water in the distributor  25  drains into the sump  70  as described above, and the water from the sump drains through the discharge line  78 . The discharge valve  79  can be closed when the water level sensor  64  detects that the sump  70  is empty. If repair or maintenance of the distributor  25  should ever be required, a technician can simply open the door  52  to the enclosure and pull out the top piece  210  as described above. No fasteners are used when removing and replacing the top distributor piece  210 . 
     When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
     As various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.