Patent ID: 6854277

Claim:
A method of operating an ice-making machine that includes an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser, said method comprising: (a) providing refrigerant substantially in liquid phase to said evaporator of said ice-making machine during a freeze cycle; (b) providing refrigerant substantially in vapor phase to said evaporator during a harvest cycle; (c) reducing flow of said refrigerant during said harvest cycle from said evaporator to said compressor of said ice-making machine without stopping said flow, as compared to the flow during said freeze cycle, whereby the pressure and temperature of said refrigerant increases in said evaporator to thereby assist in the defrost of said evaporator, wherein reducing flow of said refrigerant during said harvest cycle comprises directing said refrigerant through a pressure regulator connected in circuit with said evaporator and said compressor; and, (d) operating a receiver connected in circuit with said compressor, said condenser and said evaporator during said freeze cycle to provide said refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator via a supply line, and selectively either operating said receiver during said harvest cycle to provide said refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator via a vapor line which bypasses said condenser or preventing operation of said receiver during said harvest cycle to provide refrigerant from said compressor to said evaporator such that said refrigerant bypasses said receiver and said condenser.