Water distribution control for automatic ice cube maker

Claim 1

In an ice maker apparatus including a refrigerated plate and water supply means for delivering water to an underside of said plate to form ice thereon, guide means to direct the flow of water and to transfer the water from said water supply means onto said plate and to obviate objectionable loss of water into an ice cube storage zone below said plate during start-up and cut-off of water supplied to said plate, said guide means comprising water intercepter and transfer means interposed between said eater supply means and said zone below said plate and consisting of a baffle physically distinct from said refrigerated plate and having an edge proximate to and extending laterally across said plate, said baffle constituting resilient means physically interposed to define a water-impervious physical barrier between said water supply means and said ice cube storage zone therebelow and overlying said storage zone to divert therefrom water discharged from said water supply means for delivery to said refrigerated plate, said edge of said baffle being disposed for effective cooperation with said plate to define therewith during flow of water onto said baffle a slit operable to control and to distribute water flowing from said baffle onto said plate, slit spacing between said plate and the edge of said baffle being so limited as to ensure water flow control at all flow rates, including very low flow rates, thereby to ensure full transfer of water from said baffle to said plate and to preclude free gravitational fall of water from said edge of said baffle downwardly during start-up and during cut-off of water supplied to said plate, whereby the water flowing onto said baffle is effectively transferred to said plate and objectionable dripping of water into the ice cube storage zone below said plate is prevented.