A portable ice cube maker works through a simple and efficient process that involves freezing water and then releasing it as ice cubes, here is how ice cube makers typically work:
1. Water Filling: The user fills the water reservoir of the portable ice cube maker with clean and filtered water. The reservoir usually has a maximum fill line to prevent overfilling.
2. Water Pumping: The machine's water pump circulates the water from the reservoir to the ice mold or freezing chamber. Some models may have a mechanism that sprays a thin layer of water onto a cold plate.
3. Freezing: The machine has a cooling mechanism, which can be a refrigeration system or a cold plate, that rapidly cools the water. As the water reaches freezing temperatures, it starts to solidify around the edges of the ice mold.
4. Ice Formation: The cooling process continues until the water in the ice mold is completely frozen. Depending on the machine, this can take around 6 to 15 minutes for a batch of ice cubes to form.
5. Ice Cube Ejection: Once the ice cubes are fully formed, the machine's internal mechanism pushes or agitates the ice cubes to detach them from the mold or cold plate. Some models use heating elements to slightly warm the mold, making it easier to release the ice cubes.
6. Collection Bin: The released ice cubes fall into a collection bin or basket located just below the ice-making area.