CN111197894B

CN111197894B - Ice maker and refrigerator

Info

Publication number: CN111197894B
Application number: CN201911127175.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 洪镇驲; 金容贤
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2018-11-16
Filing date: 2019-11-18
Publication date: 2023-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-18
Also published as: CN116447796A; CN116412602A; CN116428798A; EP3653957A1; CN111197894A

Abstract

The ice maker of the present invention includes: an upper tray assembly including an upper mold portion having at least one upper cavity; and a lower tray assembly including a lower support and a lower mold part having at least one lower chamber and having flexibility, the lower tray assembly being movable relative to the upper tray assembly between an open position and a closed position, the upper chamber and the lower chamber forming at least one ice chamber for making ice, the lower mold part including a protrusion protruding to the lower chamber side, the protrusion being deformed to the outside of the lower chamber during ice making.

Description

Ice maker and refrigerator

Technical Field

The present specification relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator.

Background

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance for being able to store food at a low temperature in a storage space inside shielded by a door.

The refrigerator cools the inside of the storage space using cool air, so that the stored food can be stored in a refrigerated or frozen state.

Generally, an ice maker for making ice is provided inside a refrigerator.

The ice maker is configured to make ice by receiving water supplied from a water supply source or a water tank to a tray.

And, the icemaker is configured to move the ice made from the ice tray by a heating manner or a torsion manner.

The ice maker which automatically supplies water and moves ice in the manner as described above is formed to be opened upward to take out the formed ice.

Ice produced by the ice maker having the above-described structure has a flat surface of at least one of a crescent shape or a diamond shape.

In addition, ice can be more conveniently used in the case where the shape of the ice is formed in a spherical shape, and different use feeling can be provided to a user. And, ice coagulation can be minimized by minimizing the area of contact between ice when storing the ice made.

An ice maker is provided in korean registered patent publication No. 10-1850918 as prior document 1.

The ice maker of the prior document 1 includes: an upper tray in which a plurality of hemispherical upper cases are arranged, and which includes a pair of link guide parts extending upward at both side ends; a lower tray, in which a plurality of hemispherical lower cases are arranged, and which is rotatably connected to the upper tray; and an ice moving heater for heating the upper tray.

And, the ice maker includes a lower ejector pin for separating ice attached in the lower tray during the ice moving process.

The lower tray includes: a tray main body formed with a plurality of lower cases; a lower frame formed with a tray main body accommodating part for accommodating the tray main body; and an upper frame, the tray main body and the lower frame being fixed to a bottom surface of the upper frame.

The tray body is provided with an extension end extending radially from the top surface edge of the lower housing. The tray main body seating portion supports the extension end.

In the case of such an ice maker of prior document 1, the tray main body seating portion supports only the extended end in the tray main body. Thus, the lower housing is not covered by the lower frame. Accordingly, the lower case is in a state in which it may be deformed by an external force during ice making.

During ice making, water expands, and an expansion force of the water acts on the lower tray.

However, in the case of the prior document 1, the lower case is not covered by the lower frame, and therefore, an expansion force of water acts on the lower case, so that the lower case may be deformed. When the lower case is deformed, ice is formed in a form corresponding to the deformed lower case, and thus, there is a disadvantage in that the ice cannot be formed in a complete spherical shape.

In the case of conventional document 1, although ice having a form similar to that of a ball can be produced, the ice is frozen in the upper case and the lower case, respectively, and therefore, bubbles are present in the produced ice, and the ice is opaque.

An ice tray is provided in U.S. patent publication No. 2182454, which is conventional document 2.

The ice cube tray of prior document 2 may include a frame and a soft rubber tray supported by the frame. The tray may include a plurality of containers.

A recessed portion having a shape recessed downward is provided on each lower side of the plurality of containers.

During ice making, water is located in the plurality of containers and recesses, and the water is changed into ice in this state. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned prior document 2, after the completion of the ice making, the ice includes the convex portion having a shape convex downward. After the ice making is completed, when the concave portion is pressed to separate the ice from the tray, the concave portion is upward and separates the ice from the tray.

Therefore, in the case of the conventional document 2, since the convex portion is formed downward based on the entire shape of the ice, even if the conventional document 1 and the conventional document 2 are combined, there is a disadvantage that it is difficult to form the ice in a complete spherical shape.

Disclosure of Invention

The present embodiment provides an ice maker capable of maintaining ice, which is completed with ice making, in a spherical shape.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker in which a convex portion of a lower tray for generating spherical ice is easily deformed during ice making.

The embodiment provides an ice maker in which a convex portion deformed during ice making can be deformed again during ice moving.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker capable of generating transparent spherical ice.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker, heat of a lower heater can be smoothly supplied to a lower tray.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker in which a lower heater for generating transparent ice does not interfere with a lower ejector for moving the ice, and heat of the lower heater can be smoothly transferred to a lower tray.

The embodiment provides a refrigerator comprising the ice maker.

The ice maker according to an aspect may include: an upper tray forming an upper chamber as a part of the ice chamber; a lower tray including a chamber wall forming a lower chamber as another part of the ice chambers; and a lower support supporting a chamber wall of the lower tray and having a lower opening.

The upper chamber and the lower chamber may be formed in a hemispherical shape. The ice generated by the upper chamber and the lower chamber in the ice chamber may have a spherical shape.

The chamber wall of the lower tray may include a convex portion in consideration of a part of the chamber wall being deformed toward the lower opening side. The convex portion may protrude in a direction away from the lower opening.

The chamber wall includes a contact region in contact with the lower support and a non-contact region where at least a portion of the protrusion may be disposed.

The center of the protrusion may coincide with the center of the lower opening.

The upper tray includes an upper opening through which a vertical center line passing through the center of the ice chamber may pass, the protrusion, and the lower opening.

A part of the convex portion is located outside the lower opening before ice making is completed, and a part of the convex portion that is originally located outside the lower opening is deformed toward the lower opening side to be located inside the lower opening after ice making is completed, so that the ice can be formed into a spherical shape as a whole.

In the present embodiment, a concave portion having a shape concave toward the upper tray direction is formed at the lower side of the convex portion, and thus the convex portion may be easily deformed by the expansion force of water and may be easily deformed again by the pressing force during the ice moving.

In this embodiment, the ice maker may further include: a lower ejector penetrating the lower opening and pressing the convex part to move ice; a lower heater capable of providing heat to the lower tray during ice making.

The lower heater may be located radially outward of the lower opening to prevent interference of the lower heater with the lower ejector.

As an example, a portion of the lower heater may be disposed around the periphery of the convex portion in the horizontal direction.

The lower heater may be supported by the lower support.

The outer surface of the chamber wall may include an arc surface from which a heater contact portion for contacting the lower heater may protrude.

The bottom surface of the heater contact portion may be a plane so that the contact area thereof with the lower heater increases. The heater contact may be configured to surround the convex portion.

The refrigerator according to another aspect may include: a case provided with a freezing chamber; and an icemaker for making ice using cool air for cooling the freezing compartment.

The ice maker may include: an upper tray defining an upper chamber; a lower tray defining a lower chamber forming an ice chamber together with the upper chamber; and a lower support supporting the lower tray and having a lower opening. The lower tray may include a protrusion protruding toward the upper tray at a position corresponding to the lower opening.

The ice maker according to still another aspect includes: an upper tray forming an upper chamber as a part of the ice chamber; a lower tray including a chamber wall forming a lower chamber as another part of the ice chambers; and a lower support supporting a chamber wall of the lower tray and having a lower opening, the lower tray may be formed of a flexible material as a nonmetallic material, and the chamber wall may include a convex portion protruding in a direction away from the lower opening.

A recess having a shape recessed toward the upper tray may be formed at a lower side of the protrusion. A part of the convex portion is located outside the lower opening before ice making is completed, and a part of the convex portion, which is originally located outside the lower opening, may be deformed to the lower opening side to be located inside the lower opening after ice making is completed.

The diameter of the protrusion may be smaller than the diameter of the lower opening before ice making is completed.

Before the ice making is completed, the highest point of the protrusion may be located at a higher position than the lowest point of the ice chamber, and the highest point of the recess may be located at a lower position than the lowest point of the ice chamber.

The highest point of the recess may be located at a higher position than the lowest point of the lower tray before ice making is completed.

The ice maker may further include a lower heater for supplying heat to the lower tray during ice making. The highest point of the recess may be located at a higher position than the lower heater before ice making is completed.

A vertical center line passing through a center of the ice chamber may pass through the lower opening. Before the ice making is completed, the lowest point of the lower tray may be spaced apart from the vertical center line in a horizontal direction.

The distance between the lowest point of the lower tray after the completion of the ice making and the vertical center line may be smaller than the distance between the lowest point of the lower tray and the vertical center line before the completion of the ice making.

The ice maker may include a lower ejector that presses the protrusion through the lower opening to move ice. The lower heater may provide heat to the lower tray during ice making.

The lower heater may be located radially outward of the lower opening.

At least a portion of the lower heater may be configured to surround the convex portion in a horizontal direction.

The lowest point of the ice chamber may be located at a higher position than the highest point of the lower heater before ice making is completed, and the lowest point of the ice chamber may be located at a lower position than the highest point of the lower heater after ice making is completed.

At least a portion of the lower heater may be located at a position higher than a lowest point of the lower tray before ice making is completed, and the lowest point of the lower tray may be located at a position lower than the lower heater after ice making is completed.

The lower heater may be supported by the lower support.

The outer surface of the chamber wall may include an arc surface from which a heater contact portion for contacting the lower heater may protrude. The bottom surface of the heater contact may be a plane.

The heater contact may be configured to surround the convex portion.

The lower support includes a heater receiving groove for receiving the lower heater, and the heater receiving groove may be formed of an inner wall and an outer wall.

At least a portion of the heater contact portion may be located between the top surface of the inner wall and the top surface of the outer wall in a state where the heater contact portion is in contact with the lower heater.

The top surface of the inner wall and the top surface of the outer wall are respectively in contact with the chamber wall, and may be arc-shaped.

The ice maker according to still another aspect may include: an upper tray including an upper tray body forming a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers; and a lower tray including a lower tray body forming a plurality of hemispherical lower chambers and contacting a bottom surface of the upper tray body at a top surface.

In this embodiment, the upper tray and the lower tray may be respectively formed of a silicon material.

In this embodiment, the lower tray body may include a convex portion that is curved in a convex manner toward the upper chamber. In the ice making process, since the protrusion is not formed to have a shape protruding to the outside of the ice due to the deformation of the protrusion, spherical ice may be generated.

A concave portion having an upwardly concave shape may be formed at a lower side of the convex portion to smoothly deform the convex portion.

The lower tray may include: a first extension portion extending from the lower tray main body in a horizontal direction; and a peripheral wall extending upward from the first extension portion and surrounding the upper tray main body.

The outer surface of the chamber wall may be spaced from the inner surface of the lower tray body.

The upper tray body may include chamber walls forming the plurality of upper chambers. The chamber walls include a vertical wall and a curved wall, and the peripheral wall may include a first wall surrounding the vertical wall and a second wall surrounding the curved wall.

The upper tray body may include: an upper opening for allowing cool air to flow in; an inlet wall extending along a periphery of the upper opening; and a first connection rib provided to the inlet wall and connecting the inlet wall and the upper tray body.

The upper tray body includes a number of upper openings corresponding to the plurality of upper chambers and inlet walls, and at least two adjacent inlet walls of the plurality of inlet walls may be connected by a second connection rib.

The ice maker according to still another aspect includes: an upper tray forming an upper chamber as a part of the ice chamber; and a lower tray forming a lower chamber as another part of the ice chambers, at least a portion of the lower tray being spaced apart from the upper tray at a water supply position, at least a portion of the lower tray being contactable with the upper tray at an ice making position, and the upper tray being harder than the lower tray to prevent water leakage at a contact portion of the lower tray and the upper tray during ice making.

The upper tray and the lower tray may be formed of a flexible material as a nonmetallic material. As an example, the upper tray and the lower tray may be formed of a silicon material.

The ice maker may further include a lower ejector that presses the lower tray during the ice moving process.

The upper tray and the lower tray are formed of flexible materials, and when the hardness of the upper tray is greater than that of the lower tray, the deformation of the upper tray is limited in the process of moving ice, and the lower tray can be deformed in the process of being pressed by the lower ejector. The ice attached to the lower tray can be separated from the lower tray due to the deformation of the lower tray.

The upper tray includes an upper tray body forming the upper chamber, and the lower tray may include: a lower tray body forming the lower chamber; and a peripheral wall extending from the lower tray body and surrounding the upper tray body in an ice making position.

A gap may be formed between an outer surface of the upper tray body and an inner surface of the peripheral wall at the ice making position to prevent water from overflowing from the ice chamber during movement of the lower tray to the ice making position after water is supplied. The gap may be formed to be smaller than the thickness of the peripheral wall.

The upper tray body may include an upper opening. In the ice making position, an upper end of the peripheral wall may be located at a higher position than the upper opening.

The ice maker may further include an upper ejector that presses ice through the upper opening during ice moving.

The ice maker further includes: a lower support member supporting the lower tray; and a lower case having the peripheral wall surrounding a peripheral wall of the lower tray, whereby the peripheral wall of the lower tray can be restrained from being deformed outward.

A coupling protrusion is provided at the outer peripheral wall of the lower tray, and a coupling slot for coupling the coupling protrusion is provided at the outer peripheral wall of the lower case, so that the outer peripheral wall of the lower tray can be restrained from being deformed inward.

The ice maker may further include: a lower support supporting a portion of the lower tray; and a lower case supporting another portion of the lower tray.

The lower tray may further include a horizontally extending portion extending from the peripheral wall.

The lower support may be in contact with a bottom surface of the extension in the horizontal direction, and the lower case may be in contact with a top surface of the extension in the horizontal direction.

A protrusion may be provided on any one of the top and bottom surfaces of the extension in the horizontal direction, and a slot for receiving the protrusion may be provided on any one of the lower support and the lower housing.

The ice maker may further include: an upper support supporting the upper tray; and an upper case that presses a part of the upper tray toward the upper support side.

The upper tray may include: an upper tray body forming the upper chamber; and a horizontal extension portion extending from the upper tray main body in a horizontal direction and supported by the upper support.

The upper support may include a support plate having an opening for passing a portion of the upper tray therethrough and contacting a bottom surface of the horizontal extension.

The upper housing may include an upper plate having an opening for passing a portion of the upper tray therethrough and contacting a top surface of the horizontal extension.

Protrusions are provided on one or more of the top and bottom surfaces of the horizontal extension portion, and slots for receiving the protrusions are provided on one or more of the support plate and the upper plate, so that deformation of the horizontal extension portion can be prevented.

The refrigerator according to still another aspect may include: a case provided with a freezing chamber; and an icemaker for making ice using cool air for cooling the freezing compartment.

The ice maker may be characterized by comprising: an upper tray defining an upper chamber; and a lower tray defining a lower chamber forming an ice chamber together with the upper chamber and rotatable with respect to the upper tray, the upper tray and the lower tray being respectively formed of a flexible material as a nonmetallic material, the upper tray may have a hardness greater than that of the lower tray.

The ice maker according to still another aspect may include: an upper tray forming an upper chamber as a part of the ice chamber and formed of a flexible material as a nonmetallic material; and a lower tray forming a lower chamber as another part of the ice chambers and formed of a flexible material as a nonmetallic material.

At least a portion of the lower tray is spaced apart from the upper tray in a water supply position, and at least a portion of the lower tray is in contact with the upper tray in an ice making position, and the upper tray has a hardness greater than that of the lower tray.

The upper tray and the lower tray may be formed of the same material. As an example, the upper tray and the lower tray may be formed of a silicon material.

The upper tray includes an upper tray body forming the upper chamber, and the lower tray may include: a lower tray body forming the lower chamber; and a peripheral wall extending from the lower tray body, surrounding the upper tray body in an ice making position.

In the ice making position, a gap may be formed between an outer surface of the upper tray body and an inner surface of the peripheral wall. The gap may be formed to be smaller than the thickness of the peripheral wall.

The upper tray body may include an upper opening, and an upper end of the peripheral wall may be located at a higher position than the upper opening in the ice making position.

The lower tray further includes a first extension portion extending from the lower tray body in a horizontal direction, the peripheral wall extends upward from the first extension portion, and a bottom surface of the upper tray body may be in contact with a top surface of the lower tray body.

The ice maker further includes: a lower support supporting a portion of the upper tray; and a lower housing supporting another portion of the lower tray, the lower tray may further include a second extension extending from the peripheral wall.

Protrusions are provided on one or more of the top and bottom surfaces of the second extension, and slots for receiving the protrusions may be provided on one or more of the lower support and the lower housing.

The upper tray body may include: a vertical wall; and a curved wall curved in a direction away from the upper chamber. The peripheral wall may include a first wall surrounding the vertical wall and a second wall surrounding the curved wall.

The first wall is a vertical wall and the second wall is a curved wall.

The lower tray may be rotated with respect to the upper tray with reference to a rotation center, and the second wall may be located closer to the rotation center than the first wall.

The centre of curvature of the second wall may coincide with the centre of rotation.

The ice maker may further include: a lower support member supporting the lower tray; and a lower housing having a peripheral wall surrounding a peripheral wall of the lower tray.

A coupling protrusion is provided at a peripheral wall of the lower tray, and a coupling slot for coupling the coupling protrusion may be provided at a peripheral wall of the lower case.

An upper plate may be included having an opening for passing a portion of the upper tray therethrough and contacting a top surface of the horizontal extension.

Protrusions are provided on one or more of the top and bottom surfaces of the horizontal extension, and slots for receiving the protrusions may be provided on one or more of the support plate and the upper plate.

According to the proposed invention, the lower tray includes a convex portion that protrudes toward the upper chamber side. The protrusion is formed in consideration of an expansion force of water during ice making, and thus, when the protrusion is deformed during ice making, the protrusion forms a part of the hemispherical lower chamber. Thus, there is no portion protruding outward in the ice made, and the ice may have a spherical shape.

And, heat of the lower heater is supplied to the lower tray during the ice making process, so that ice is frozen from the upper side in the ice chamber, thereby having an advantage of making the generated spherical ice transparent.

Further, since the convex portion of the lower tray is pressed by the lower ejector to move ice, and the concave portion having a concave shape is provided at the lower side of the convex portion, the convex portion is easily deformed during ice making.

In addition, in the ice moving process, the deformed convex portion is pressed by the lower ejector to be deformed again, thereby improving the separation performance of the ice and the lower tray.

Further, since the lower heater is located radially outward of the convex portion, the lower ejector does not interfere with the lower heater, and since the lower heater is provided around the periphery of the convex portion, heat of the lower heater can be smoothly transferred to the lower tray.

Further, since the upper tray and the lower tray of the flexible material are in contact with each other at the ice making position, the hardness of the upper tray is formed to be greater than that of the lower tray, and thus there is an advantage in that the adhesion force of the contact portion of the upper tray and the lower tray is improved.

When the contact force of the contact part of the upper tray and the lower tray is improved, water can be prevented from flowing between the upper tray and the lower tray and leaking out during ice making.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the deformation and the positional movement of the upper tray can be restricted during the ice moving, and the lower tray is easily deformed during the pressing by the lower ejector, so that the ice attached to the lower tray can be separated from the lower tray.

And, the lower tray includes a peripheral wall surrounding the periphery of the upper tray at the ice making position, and a gap exists between the peripheral wall and the outer surface of the upper tray, whereby water can be stored in the gap even if water is excessively supplied during the water supply process, and thus water of the ice chamber can be prevented from overflowing to the outside of the ice maker.

Also, the lower support supporting the lower tray includes a peripheral wall surrounding the peripheral wall of the lower tray, so that the peripheral wall of the lower tray can be prevented from being deformed outward.

Further, since the coupling protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the lower tray and the protrusion slot for receiving the coupling protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the lower support, the outer peripheral wall of the lower tray can be prevented from being deformed inward.

And, the upper tray includes a horizontal extension portion, the upper housing is in contact with a top surface of the horizontal extension portion, and the upper support is in contact with a bottom surface of the horizontal extension portion, so that movement of the upper tray can be prevented.

Further, since the protrusion is formed on the horizontal extension portion, and the protrusion is coupled to one or more of the upper support and the upper case, it is possible to prevent plastic deformation due to the horizontal extension portion being stretched.

And, the lower tray includes an extension portion extending in a horizontal direction, the lower support is in contact with a bottom surface of the extension portion, and the lower case is in contact with a top surface of the extension portion, so that the extension portion can be prevented from moving during the deformation of the lower tray body during the ice moving process.

Further, since the protrusion is formed on the extension portion and is coupled to one or more of the lower support and the lower case, plastic deformation due to stretching of the extension portion can be prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a refrigerator door of fig. 1 is opened.

Fig. 3 and 4 are perspective views of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an upper perspective view of an upper housing of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a lower perspective view of an upper housing of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is an upper perspective view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a lower perspective view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a side view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is an upper perspective view of an upper support member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a lower perspective view of an upper support member of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a view showing a heater joint in the upper case of fig. 6 in an enlarged manner.

Fig. 14 is a view showing a state where the heater is coupled to the upper case of fig. 6.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the arrangement of electric wires connected to the heater in the upper case.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing a state where the upper assembly is assembled.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a lower assembly of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 is an upper perspective view of the lower housing of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a lower perspective view of a lower housing of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is an upper perspective view of a lower tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 21 and 22 are lower perspective views of a lower tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 23 is a side view of a lower tray of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 24 is an upper perspective view of a lower support member of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 25 is a lower perspective view of a lower support member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 26 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of fig. 17 for illustrating a state in which the lower assembly is assembled.

Fig. 27 is a top view of a lower support member of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower heater is coupled to the lower support of fig. 27.

Fig. 29 is a view showing a state in which an electric wire connected to the lower heater penetrates the upper case in a state in which the lower module and the upper module are coupled.

Fig. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of fig. 3.

Fig. 31 is a view illustrating a state in which ice making in fig. 30 is completed.

Fig. 32 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in a water supply state.

Fig. 33 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-making state.

Fig. 34 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-making completed state.

Fig. 35 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an initial state of ice removal.

Fig. 36 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in a state where ice removal is completed.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 2 is a view showing a state in which a door of the refrigerator of fig. 1 is opened.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 of an embodiment of the present invention may include: a case 2 forming a storage space; and a door for opening and closing the storage space.

In detail, the case 2 forms a storage space partitioned up and down by a partition plate, and a refrigerating chamber 3 may be formed at an upper portion and a freezing chamber 4 may be formed at a lower portion.

Storage means such as drawers, shelves, and casings may be provided inside the refrigerating chamber 3 and the freezing chamber 4.

The doors may include a refrigerating chamber door 5 shielding the refrigerating chamber 3 and a freezing chamber door 6 shielding the freezing chamber 4.

The refrigerating chamber door 5 may be formed of a pair of left and right doors and opened and closed by rotation. The freezing chamber door 6 may be configured to be drawn in and drawn out in a drawer type.

Of course, the configurations of the refrigerating chamber 3 and the freezing chamber 4 and the forms of the doors may be different according to the kinds of refrigerators, and the present invention may be applied to various kinds of refrigerators without being limited thereto. For example, the freezing compartment 4 and the refrigerating compartment 3 may be disposed in a left-right direction, or the freezing compartment 4 may be located at an upper side of the refrigerating compartment 3.

An ice maker 100 may be provided at the freezing chamber 4. The ice maker 100 is used to make ice from supplied water, and may generate spherical ice.

An ice bank 102 may be further provided below the ice maker 100, and ice made after the ice is moved from the ice maker 100 is stored in the ice bank 102.

The ice maker 100 and the ice bank 102 may also be installed inside the freezing chamber 4 in a state of being accommodated in a separate housing 101.

The user may take ice by opening the freezing chamber door 6 and approaching the ice bank 102.

As another example, the refrigerating chamber door 5 may be provided with a dispenser 7 for extracting purified water or ice made from the outside.

The ice generated at the ice maker 100 or the ice generated at the ice maker 100 and stored in the ice bank 102 is transferred to the dispenser 7 by the transfer device so that a user can obtain the ice from the dispenser 7, and the ice maker will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 3 and 4 are perspective views of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 3 to 5, the ice maker 100 may include an upper assembly 110 (or an upper tray assembly) and a lower assembly 200 (or a lower tray assembly).

The lower assembly 200 may rotate relative to the upper assembly 110. As an example, the lower assembly 200 may be rotatably coupled to the upper assembly 110.

The lower assembly 200 may generate spherical ice together with the upper assembly 110 in a state of contact with the upper assembly 110.

That is, the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200 form an ice chamber 111 for generating spherical ice. The ice chamber 111 is a substantially spherical chamber.

It should be understood that the term "spherical or hemispherical" in the present invention includes not only the shape of a geometrically complete sphere or hemisphere, but also the shape geometrically similar to a complete sphere or hemisphere.

The upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200 may form separate ice chambers 111.

In the following, a case where three ice chambers 111 are formed by the upper and

lower assemblies

110 and 200 is illustrated, and it is to be understood that the number of ice chambers 111 is not limited.

In a state where the ice chamber 111 is formed by the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200, water may be supplied to the ice chamber 111 through the water supply part 190.

The water supply part 190 is coupled to the upper assembly 110, and guides water supplied from the outside to the ice chamber 111.

After ice making, the lower assembly 200 may be rotated in a forward direction. At this time, the spherical ice formed between the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200 may be separated from the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200.

The ice maker 100 may further include a driving unit 180 to enable the lower assembly 200 to rotate with respect to the upper assembly 110.

The driving unit 180 may include: a drive motor; and a power transmission part for transmitting power of the driving motor to the lower assembly 200. The power transmission portion may include more than one gear.

The driving motor may be a motor capable of bi-directional rotation. Thus, the lower assembly 200 may rotate bi-directionally.

The ice maker 100 may further include an upper ejector 300 to enable ice to be separated from the upper assembly 110.

The upper ejector 300 may separate ice clinging to the upper assembly 110 from the upper assembly 110.

The upper ejector 300 may include: an ejector body 310; and a plurality of upper ejector pins 320 extending from the ejector body 310 in a crossing direction.

The upper ejector pins 320 may be provided in the same number as the ice chambers 111.

Separation preventing protrusions 312 may be provided at both ends of the ejector body 310 to prevent separation from the connection unit 350 in a state where the ejector body 310 is coupled with the connection unit 350, which will be described later.

As an example, a pair of separation preventing protrusions 312 may protrude in opposite directions from the ejector main body 310.

The ice in the ice chamber 111 may be pressed during the introduction of the upper ejector pin 320 into the ice chamber 111 through the upper assembly 110.

Ice pressed by the upper ejector pin 320 may be separated from the upper assembly 110.

Also, the ice maker 100 may further include a lower ejector 400 to separate ice closely adhered to the lower assembly 200.

The lower ejector 400 may separate ice closely adhering to the lower assembly 200 from the lower assembly 200 by pressing the lower assembly 200. As an example, the lower ejector 400 may be fixed to the upper assembly 110.

The lower ejector 400 may include: an ejector body 410; and a plurality of lower ejector pins 420 protruding from the ejector body 410. The lower ejector pins 420 may be provided in the same number as the ice chambers 111.

During rotation of the lower assembly 200 for ice removal, a rotational force of the lower assembly 200 may be transferred to the upper ejector 300.

To this end, the ice maker 100 may further include a connection unit 350 connecting the lower assembly 200 and the upper ejector 300. The connection unit 350 may include more than one link.

As an example, when the lower assembly 200 rotates in one direction, the upper ejector 300 descends by the connection unit 350, so that the upper ejector pin 320 may press ice.

In contrast, when the lower assembly 200 rotates in the other direction, the upper ejector 300 is lifted up to return to the original position by the connection unit 350.

The upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200 are further described in detail below.

The upper assembly 110 may include an upper tray 150 forming part of an ice chamber 111, the ice chamber 111 being used for making ice. As an example, the upper tray 150 defines an upper portion of the ice chamber 111. The upper tray 150 may be referred to as a first tray. Alternatively, the upper tray 150 may be referred to as an upper mold part (upper mold part).

The upper assembly 110 may further include an upper support 170 for fixing the position of the upper tray 150.

As an example, the upper support 170 may support the lower side of the upper tray 150 to restrict the lower side from moving.

The upper assembly 110 may further include an upper housing 120 for fixing the position of the upper tray 150. The upper case 120 may press a portion of the upper tray 150 toward the upper supporter 170 side.

The upper tray 150 may be located at the lower side of the upper housing 120. A portion of the upper support 170 may be located at the lower side of the upper tray 150.

As described above, the upper case 120, the upper tray 150, and the upper support 170 aligned in the up-down direction may be fastened by the fastening members.

That is, the upper tray 150 may be fixed to the upper case 120 by fastening of fastening members.

As an example, the water supply part 190 may be fixed to the upper case 120.

The ice maker 100 may further include a temperature sensor 500 for sensing the temperature of the upper tray 150.

As an example, the temperature sensor 500 may be mounted to the upper case 120. The temperature sensor 500 may contact the upper tray 150 when the upper tray 150 is fixed to the upper case 120.

In addition, the lower assembly 200 may include a lower tray 250, the lower tray 250 forming another part of the ice chamber 111 for making ice. As an example, the lower tray 250 defines a lower portion of the ice chamber 111.

The lower assembly 200 may further include: a lower support 270 supporting a lower side of the lower tray 250; and a lower case 210, at least a portion of the lower case 210 covering an upper side of the lower tray 250. The lower tray 250 may be referred to as a second tray. Alternatively, the lower tray 250 may be a lower mold part.

The lower assembly 200 may further include a lower support 270 supporting the underside of the lower tray 250.

The lower assembly 200 may further include a lower housing 210, at least a portion of the lower housing 210 covering an upper side of the lower tray 250.

The lower case 210, the lower tray 250, and the lower support 270 may be fastened by fastening members.

In addition, the ice maker 100 may further include a switch 600 for turning on/off the ice maker 100. When the user operates the switch 600 to the on state, ice can be made through the icemaker 100.

That is, the switching 600 may be repeatedly performed when it is activated: an ice making process of supplying water to the ice maker 100 and making ice using cool air; and an ice moving process of rotating the lower assembly 200 to separate ice.

In contrast, when the switch 600 is operated to be in the off state, ice cannot be made by the icemaker 100. As an example, the switch 600 may be provided in the upper case 120.

< upper case >

Fig. 6 is an upper perspective view of an upper housing according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 7 is a lower perspective view of an upper housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 6 and 7, the upper case 120 may be fixed to the casing 101 in the freezing chamber 4 in a state where the upper tray 150 is fixed.

The upper case 120 may include an upper plate 121 for fixing the upper tray 150.

The upper tray 150 may be fixed to the upper plate 121 in a state where a portion of the upper tray 150 is in contact with the bottom surface of the upper plate 121.

An opening 123 for penetrating a portion of the upper tray 150 may be provided at the upper plate 121.

As an example, in a state where the upper tray 150 is positioned at the lower side of the upper plate 121, when the upper tray 150 is fixed to the upper plate 121, a portion of the upper tray 150 may protrude above the upper plate 121 through the opening 123.

Alternatively, the upper tray 150 may be exposed above the upper plate 121 through the opening 123, instead of protruding above the upper plate 121 through the opening 123.

The upper plate 121 may include a recess 122 formed to be recessed downward. The opening 123 may be formed at a bottom 122a of the recess 122.

Accordingly, the upper tray 150 penetrating the opening 123 may be located in a space formed by the recess 122.

A heater coupling portion 124 for coupling an upper heater (refer to 148 of fig. 14) for heating the upper tray 150 may be provided at the upper case 120 to perform ice removal.

As an example, the heater joint 124 may be provided on the upper plate 121. The heater joint 124 may be located at the lower side of the recess 122.

The upper housing 120 may further include a pair of mounting

ribs

128, 129 for mounting the temperature sensor 500.

The pair of mounting

ribs

128, 129 are arranged spaced apart in the direction of arrow B in fig. 7. The pair of mounting

ribs

128, 129 are arranged to face each other, and the temperature sensor 500 may be located between the pair of mounting

ribs

128, 129.

The pair of mounting

ribs

128, 129 may be provided to the upper plate 121.

The upper plate 121 may be provided with a plurality of

slots

131, 132 for coupling with the upper tray 150.

A portion of the upper tray 150 may be inserted into the plurality of

slots

131, 132.

The plurality of

slots

131, 132 may include: a first upper slot 131; and a second upper slot 132 positioned on the opposite side of the first upper slot 131 with respect to the opening 123.

The opening 123 may be located between the first upper socket 131 and the second upper socket 132.

The first upper socket 131 and the second upper socket 132 may be spaced apart in the direction of arrow B in fig. 7.

The plurality of first upper slots 131 may be arranged to be spaced apart in an arrow a direction (referred to as a first direction) of a direction crossing the arrow B direction (referred to as a second direction), but is not limited thereto.

Also, the plurality of second upper slots 132 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction.

In the present specification, the arrow a direction is the same direction as the arrangement direction of the plurality of ice chambers 111.

As an example, the first upper socket 131 may be formed in a curved shape. Accordingly, the length of the first upper socket 131 may be increased.

As an example, the second upper socket 132 may be formed in a curved shape. Accordingly, the length of the second upper socket 132 may be increased.

When the length of each of the

upper slots

131, 132 is increased, the length of the protrusion (formed at the upper tray) inserted into each of the

upper slots

131, 132 may be increased, so that the coupling force of the upper tray 150 with the upper case 120 can be increased.

The distance from the first upper socket 131 to the opening 123 and the distance from the second upper socket 132 to the opening 123 may be different. As an example, a distance from the second upper socket 132 to the opening 123 may be formed shorter than a distance from the first upper socket 131 to the opening 123.

When each of the

upper slots

131, 132 is viewed from the opening 123, it may be curved in a shape protruding from each of the

slots

131, 132 to the outside of the opening 123.

The upper plate 121 may further include a sleeve 133 for inserting a fastening boss of the upper support 170, which will be described later.

The sleeve 133 may be formed in a cylindrical shape and may extend upward from the upper plate 121.

As an example, a plurality of sleeves 133 may be provided on the upper plate 121. The plurality of sleeves 133 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the direction of the arrow a. Also, the plurality of sleeves 133 may be arranged in a plurality of rows in the arrow B direction.

A portion of the plurality of sleeves 133 may be located between two adjacent first upper slots 131.

Another part of the plurality of sleeves 133 may be disposed between the adjacent two second upper slots 132, or disposed to face the region between the two second upper slots 132.

The upper housing 120 may further include a plurality of hinge supports 135, 136 to enable rotation of the lower assembly 200.

The plurality of hinge supports 135, 136 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the direction of arrow a with reference to fig. 7. A first hinge hole 137 may be formed at each of the hinge supports 135, 136.

As an example, the plurality of hinge supports 135, 136 may extend downward from the upper plate 121.

The upper housing 120 may further include a vertical extension 140 vertically extending along the periphery of the upper plate 121. The vertical extension 140 may extend upward from the upper plate 121.

The vertical extension 140 may include more than one coupling hook 140a. The upper case 120 may be hooked with the outer case 101 by the coupling hooks 140a.

The water supply part 190 may be coupled to the vertical extension part 140.

The upper housing 120 may further include a horizontal extension 142 horizontally extending to the outside of the vertical extension 140.

The horizontal extension 142 may be provided with a screw fastening portion 142a protruding to the outside to screw-fasten the upper case 120 to the outer case 101.

The upper housing 120 may further include a side peripheral portion 143. The side peripheral portion 143 may extend downward from the horizontal extension portion 142.

The side peripheral portion 143 may be configured to surround the periphery of the lower assembly 200. That is, the side peripheral portion 143 functions to prevent the lower assembly 200 from being exposed to the outside.

While the upper case 120 is fastened to the separate casing 101 in the freezing chamber 4, the upper case 120 may be fastened directly to the wall forming the freezing chamber 4.

< upper tray >

Fig. 8 is an upper perspective view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 9 is a lower perspective view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 10 is a side view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 8 to 10, the upper tray 150 may be formed of a flexible material as a non-metallic material so that it can be restored to an original shape after being deformed by an external force.

As an example, the upper tray 150 may be formed of a silicon material. As in the present embodiment, when the upper tray 150 is formed of a silicon material, even if an external force deforms the shape of the upper tray 150 during the ice moving process, the upper tray 150 is restored to the original shape again, and thus, spherical ice can be formed despite the anti-duplication of ice.

In the case where the upper tray 150 is formed of a metal material, if an external force is applied to the upper tray 150 to deform the upper tray 150 itself, the upper tray 150 cannot be restored to the original shape.

In this case, after the shape of the upper tray 150 is deformed, spherical ice cannot be generated. That is, spherical ice cannot be repeatedly generated.

In contrast, as in the present embodiment, when the upper tray 150 has a flexible material capable of returning to an original shape, such a problem can be solved.

Also, when the upper tray 150 is formed of a silicon material, the upper tray 150 may be prevented from being melted or thermally deformed by heat supplied from an upper heater, which will be described later.

Also, when the upper tray 150 is formed of a flexible material, a coupling force or adhesive force between ice and the upper tray 150 may be reduced, so that the ice can be easily separated from the upper tray 150.

The upper tray 150 may include an upper tray body 151 forming an upper chamber 152 of a portion of the ice chamber 111. The upper tray body 151 may also be referred to as an upper mold body.

The upper tray body 151 may define a plurality of upper chambers 152.

As an example, the plurality of upper chambers 152 may define a first upper chamber 152a, a second upper chamber 152b, and a third upper chamber 152c.

The upper tray body 151 may include three chamber walls 153 forming the independent three

upper chambers

152a, 152b, 152c, and the three chamber walls 153 may be formed as one body and connected to each other.

The first upper chamber 152a, the second upper chamber 152b, and the third upper chamber 152c may be aligned. As an example, the first upper chamber 152a, the second upper chamber 152b, and the third upper chamber 152c may be arranged in the arrow a direction with reference to fig. 9. The arrow a direction of fig. 9 is the same direction as the arrow a direction of fig. 7.

At least the inner circumferential surface of the chamber wall 153 may be formed in a hemispherical shape. Thus, the upper chamber 152 may be formed in a hemispherical shape. That is, an upper portion in the spherical ice may be formed by the upper chamber 152.

An upper opening 154 for allowing water to flow into the upper chamber 152 may be formed at an upper side of the upper tray main body 151. As an example, three upper openings 154 may be formed in the upper tray main body 151. The cold air may be guided to the ice chamber 111 through the upper opening 154.

During the ice removal process, the upper ejector 300 may be introduced into the upper chamber 152 through the upper opening 154.

In order to minimize deformation of the upper opening 154 side in the upper tray 150 during the introduction of the upper ejector 300 through the upper opening 154, an inlet wall 155 may be provided at the upper tray 150.

The inlet wall 155 is disposed along the outer periphery of the upper opening 154 and may extend upward from the upper tray main body 151.

The inlet wall 155 may be formed in a cylindrical shape. Thus, the upper ejector 300 may penetrate the upper opening 154 through the inner space of the inlet wall 155.

During the introduction of the upper ejector 300 into the upper opening 154, one or more first connection ribs 155a may be provided along the periphery of the inlet wall 155 to prevent deformation of the inlet wall 155.

The first connection rib 155a may connect the inlet wall 155 and the upper tray body 151. As an example, the first connection rib 155a may be formed integrally with the outer periphery of the inlet wall 155 and the outer surface of the upper tray main body 151.

The plurality of first connection ribs 155a may be disposed along the periphery of the inlet wall 155, but is not limited thereto.

The two inlet walls 155 corresponding to the second and third

upper chambers

152b and 152c may be connected by a second connection rib 162. The second connection rib 162 also serves to prevent deformation of the inlet wall 155.

A water supply guide 156 may be provided at the inlet wall 155 corresponding to any one of the three

upper chambers

152a, 152b, 152 c.

The water supply guide 156 may be formed at the inlet wall 155 corresponding to the second upper chamber 152b, but is not limited thereto.

The water supply guide 156 may be inclined from the inlet wall 155 toward a direction more apart from the second upper chamber 152b toward the upper side.

The upper tray 150 may further include a first receiving portion 160. The recess 122 of the upper case 120 may be accommodated in the first accommodating part 160.

The recess 122 is provided with a heater joint 124, and the heater joint 124 is provided with an upper heater (see 148 of fig. 14), so that it can be understood that the upper heater (see 148 of fig. 14) is accommodated in the first accommodating portion 160.

The first receiving part 160 may be configured in a shape surrounding the

upper chambers

152a, 152b, 152 c. The first receiving part 160 may be formed by recessing a top surface of the upper tray body 151 downward.

The first accommodating portion 160 may accommodate a heater coupling portion 124 coupled to the upper heater (refer to 148 of fig. 14).

The upper tray 150 may further include a second receiving portion 161 (or may be referred to as a sensor receiving portion) in which the temperature sensor 500 is received.

As an example, the second accommodating portion 161 may be provided in the upper tray main body 151. The second receiving portion 161 may be formed to be recessed downward from the bottom of the first receiving portion 160, but is not limited thereto.

The second receiving part 161 may be located between two adjacent upper chambers. As an example, fig. 8 shows a case where the second container 161 is located between the first upper chamber 152a and the second upper chamber 152 b.

Therefore, interference between the upper heater (refer to 148 of fig. 14) accommodated in the first accommodation portion 160 and the temperature sensor 500 can be prevented.

In a state where the temperature sensor 500 is received in the second receiving portion 161, the temperature sensor 500 may be in contact with an outer surface of the upper tray body 151.

The chamber wall 153 of the upper tray body 151 may include a vertical wall 153a and a curved wall 153b.

The curved wall 153b may be curved in a direction further from the upper chamber 152 toward the upper side.

The upper tray 150 may further include a horizontal extension 164 extending in a horizontal direction from the periphery of the upper tray body 151. As an example, the horizontal extension 164 may extend along the periphery of the upper end edge of the upper tray body 151.

The horizontal extension 164 may contact the upper housing 120 and the upper support 170.

As an example, the bottom surface 164b (or may be referred to as a "first surface") of the horizontal extension 164 may be in contact with the upper support 170, and the top surface 164a (or may be referred to as a "second surface") of the horizontal extension 164 may be in contact with the upper housing 120.

At least a portion of the horizontal extension 164 may be located between the upper housing 120 and the upper support 170.

The horizontal extension 164 may include a plurality of

upper protrusions

165, 166 for inserting into the plurality of

upper slots

131, 132, respectively.

The plurality of

upper protrusions

165, 166 may include: a first upper protrusion 165; and a second upper projection 166 positioned on an opposite side of the first upper projection 165 with respect to the upper opening 154.

The first upper protrusion 165 may be inserted into the first upper socket 131, and the second upper protrusion 166 may be inserted into the second upper socket 132.

The first and second

upper protrusions

165 and 166 may protrude upward from the top surface 164a of the horizontal extension 164.

The first upper protrusion 165 and the second upper protrusion 166 may be spaced apart in the direction of arrow B in fig. 9. The arrow B direction of fig. 9 is the same direction as the arrow B direction of fig. 7.

The plurality of first upper protrusions 165 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction, but is not limited thereto.

Also, the plurality of second upper protrusions 166 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the direction of arrow a.

As an example, the first upper protrusion 165 may be formed in a curved shape. Also, as an example, the second upper protrusion 166 may be formed in a curved shape.

In the present embodiment, each of the

upper protrusions

165, 166 not only couples the upper tray 150 with the upper housing 120, but also prevents the horizontal extension 164 from being deformed during the ice making process or the ice moving process.

At this time, when the

upper protrusions

165, 166 are formed in a curved shape, the interval with the upper chamber 152 in the length direction of the

upper protrusions

165, 166 is the same or almost the same, so that the deformation of the horizontal extension 164 can be effectively prevented.

As an example, the horizontal deformation of the horizontal extension 164 is minimized, so that the horizontal extension 164 can be prevented from being elongated to be plastically deformed. If the horizontal extension 164 is plastically deformed, the upper tray body cannot be positioned at an accurate position when ice is made, and thus the ice shape is not like a sphere.

The horizontal extension 164 may further include a plurality of

lower projections

167, 168. The plurality of

lower protrusions

167, 168 may be inserted into lower slots of the upper support 170, which will be described later.

The plurality of

lower protrusions

167, 168 may include: a first lower projection 167; and a second lower protrusion 168 located on the opposite side of the first lower protrusion 167 from the upper chamber 152.

The first and second

lower protrusions

167 and 168 may protrude downward from the bottom surface 164b of the horizontal extension 164.

The first lower protrusion 167 may be positioned on an opposite side of the first upper protrusion 165 with respect to the horizontal extension 164. The second lower projection 168 may be located on an opposite side of the second upper projection 166 from the horizontal extension 164.

The first lower protrusion 167 may be disposed spaced apart from the vertical wall 153a of the upper tray main body 151. The second lower protrusion 168 may be disposed spaced apart from the curved wall 153b of the upper tray body 151.

The plurality of

lower protrusions

167, 168 may also be formed in a curved shape. By forming the

projections

165, 166, 167, 168 on the top surface 164a and the bottom surface 164b of the horizontal extension 164, respectively, deformation of the horizontal extension 164 in the horizontal direction can be effectively prevented.

The horizontal extension 164 may be provided with a through hole 169 for allowing a fastening boss of the upper support 170 to be described later to pass through.

As an example, a plurality of through holes 169 may be provided in the horizontal extension 164.

Some of the plurality of through holes 169 may be located between two adjacent first upper protrusions 165 or two adjacent first lower protrusions 167.

Another part of the plurality of through holes 169 may be disposed between the two second lower protrusions 168, or may be disposed to face a region between the two second lower protrusions 168.

< upper support >

Fig. 11 is an upper perspective view of an upper support member according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 12 is a lower perspective view of an upper support member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 11 and 12, the upper support 170 may include a support plate 171 contacting the upper tray 150.

As an example, the top surface of the support plate 171 may contact the bottom surface 164b of the horizontal extension 164 of the upper tray 150.

The support plate 171 may be provided with a plate opening 172 for allowing the upper tray main body 151 to pass through.

A peripheral wall 174 formed to be bent upward may be provided at an edge of the support plate 171. As an example, the peripheral wall 174 may contact at least a portion of the lateral periphery of the horizontal extension 164.

The top surface of the peripheral wall 174 may be in contact with the bottom surface of the upper plate 121.

The support plate 171 may include a plurality of

lower slots

176, 177.

The plurality of

lower slots

176, 177 may include a first lower slot 176 into which the first lower protrusion 167 is inserted and a second lower slot 177 into which the second lower protrusion 168 is inserted.

A plurality of first lower slots 176 may be arranged in the support plate 171 at intervals in the direction of arrow a. Also, a plurality of second lower slots 177 may be arranged in the support plate 171 at intervals in the arrow a direction.

The support plate 171 may further include a plurality of fastening bosses 175. The plurality of fastening bosses 175 may protrude upward from the top surface of the support plate 171.

Each of the fastening bosses 175 may pass through the through hole 169 of the horizontal extension 164 to be introduced into the inside of the sleeve 133 of the upper housing 120.

In a state where the fastening boss 175 is introduced into the inside of the sleeve 133, the top surface of the fastening boss 175 may be located at the same height as the top surface of the sleeve 133 or at a lower height.

As an example, the fastening member fastened to the fastening boss 175 may be a bolt (B1 of fig. 3). The bolt B1 may include a body portion and a head portion formed to be larger than a diameter of the body portion. The bolt B1 may be fastened to the fastening boss 175 from above the fastening boss 175.

During the fastening of the body portion of the bolt B1 to the fastening boss 175, the assembly of the upper assembly 110 may be completed when the head portion contacts the top surface of the sleeve 133 or the head portion contacts the top surface of the sleeve 133 and the top surface of the fastening boss 175.

The upper supporter 170 may further include a plurality of unit guides 181, 182 for guiding the connection unit 350 connected to the upper ejector 300.

As an example, the plurality of unit guides 181, 182 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the direction of arrow a with reference to fig. 12.

The unit guides 181, 182 may extend upward from the top surface of the support plate 171. Each of the cell guides 181, 182 may be coupled to the peripheral wall 174.

Each of the unit guides 181, 182 may include a guide slot 183 extending in the up-down direction.

The connection unit 350 is connected to the ejector body 310 in a state where both ends of the ejector body 310 of the upper ejector 300 pass through the guide slots 183.

Accordingly, the ejector body 310 may move up and down along the guide slot 183 when a rotational force is transmitted to the ejector body 310 by the connection unit 350 during rotation of the lower assembly 200.

< upper Heater coupling Structure >

Fig. 13 is a view showing a heater joint in the upper case of fig. 6 in an enlarged manner, fig. 14 is a view showing a state in which the heater is joined to the upper case of fig. 6, and fig. 15 is a view showing an arrangement of electric wires connected to the heater in the upper case.

Referring to fig. 13 to 15, the heater coupling portion 124 may include a heater receiving groove 124a for receiving the upper heater 148.

As an example, the heater accommodating groove 124a may be formed by upwardly recessing a part of the bottom surface of the recess 122 of the upper case 120.

The heater receiving groove 124a may extend along the periphery of the opening 123 of the upper case 120.

As an example, the upper heater 148 may be a wire type heater. Accordingly, the upper heater 148 may be bent to correspond to the shape of the heater receiving groove 124a to receive the upper heater 148 in the heater receiving groove 124a.

The upper heater 148 may be a DC heater that receives a DC power supply. The upper heater 148 may be activated to remove ice. The upper heater 148 may be referred to as an ice removing heater (ice separating heater).

When heat of the upper heater 148 is transferred to the upper tray 150, ice may be separated from a surface (inner surface) of the upper tray 150.

If the upper tray 150 is formed of a metal material, the higher the heat of the upper heater 148, the portion of ice heated by the upper heater 148 adheres again to the surface of the upper tray 150 after the upper heater 148 is turned off, thereby generating a phenomenon of becoming opaque.

That is, an opaque band having a shape corresponding to the upper heater is formed at the periphery of the ice.

However, in the case of the present embodiment, a DC heater whose output itself is low is used, and the upper tray 150 is formed of a silicon material, and therefore, the amount of heat transferred to the upper tray 150 decreases and the thermal conductivity of the upper tray 150 itself also decreases.

Since heat is not concentrated at a part of the ice and a small amount of heat is slowly applied to the ice, not only can ice be effectively separated from the upper tray, but also an opaque band can be prevented from being formed at the periphery of the ice.

The upper heater 148 may be configured to surround the periphery of the plurality of upper chambers 152 such that heat of the upper heater 148 can be uniformly transferred to each of the plurality of upper chambers 152 of the upper tray 150.

The upper heater 148 may be in contact with the periphery of each of a plurality of chamber walls 153 respectively forming the plurality of upper chambers 152. At this time, the upper heater 148 may be located at a lower position than the upper opening 154.

The heater receiving groove 124a is recessed in the recess 122, and thus, the heater receiving groove 124a may be defined by an outer wall 124b and an inner wall 124 c.

In a state where the upper heater 148 is received in the heater receiving groove 124a, a diameter of the upper heater 148 may be formed to be greater than a depth of the heater receiving groove 124a so that the upper heater 148 may protrude to an outside of the heater coupling portion 124.

In a state where the upper heater 148 is accommodated in the heater accommodating groove 124a, a portion of the upper heater 148 protrudes to the outside of the heater accommodating groove 124a, and thus, the upper heater 148 may be in contact with the upper tray 150.

An escape prevention protrusion 124d may be provided at one or more of the outer wall 124b and the inner wall 124c to prevent the upper heater 148 received in the heater receiving groove 124a from escaping from the heater receiving groove 124 a.

As an example, fig. 13 shows a case where a plurality of detachment prevention protrusions 124d are provided on the inner wall 124 c.

The escape prevention protrusion 124d may protrude from an end of the inner wall 124c toward the outer wall 124 b.

At this time, the protruding length of the escape prevention protrusion 124d may be formed to be less than 1/2 of the interval of the outer wall 124b and the inner wall 124c, so that the insertion of the upper heater 148 is not hindered by the escape prevention protrusion 124d, and the upper heater 148 is prevented from being easily escaped from the heater receiving groove 124 a.

As shown in fig. 14, in a state where the upper heater 148 is accommodated in the heater accommodation groove 124a, the upper heater 148 may be divided into an upper circular arc portion 148c and a straight portion 148d.

That is, the heater accommodating groove 124a includes an upper circular arc portion and a straight line portion, and the upper heater 148 may be divided into an upper circular arc portion 148c and a straight line portion 148d corresponding to the upper circular arc portion and the straight line portion of the heater accommodating groove 124 a.

The upper arc portion 148c is a portion disposed along the periphery of the upper chamber 152, and is a portion curved in an arc shape in the horizontal direction.

The straight portion 148d is a portion connecting the upper circular arc portions 148c corresponding to each upper chamber 152.

The upper heater 148 is positioned lower than the upper opening 154, and thus, a line connecting two points of separation of the upper arc portion may pass through the upper chamber 152.

The upper circular arc portion 148c of the upper heater 148 is likely to be separated from the heater accommodating groove 124a, and therefore, the separation preventing protrusion 124d may be disposed to contact the upper circular arc portion 148 c.

A through opening 124e may be provided on the bottom surface of the heater receiving groove 124 a. When the upper heater 148 is received in the heater receiving groove 124a, a portion of the upper heater 148 may be located at the through opening 124e. As an example, the through opening 124e may be located at a portion facing the escape prevention protrusion 124 d.

When the upper heater 148 is curved in an arc shape in the horizontal direction, a wire may be broken due to an increase in tension of the upper heater 148, and the upper heater 148 is likely to be detached from the heater accommodating groove 124 a.

However, in the case where the heater receiving groove 124a forms the through-opening 124e as in the present embodiment, a portion of the upper heater 148 may be positioned at the through-opening 124e, thereby reducing the tension of the upper heater 148 and preventing the upper heater from being detached from the heater receiving groove 124 a.

As shown in fig. 15, the power supply input end 148a and the power supply output end 148b of the upper heater 148 may pass through the heater passing hole 125 formed in the upper case 120 in a state of being arranged in parallel.

The upper heater 148 is accommodated at the lower side of the upper housing 120, and thus, the power input end 148a and the power output end 148b of the upper heater 148 may extend upward to pass through the heater passing hole 125.

The power input end 148a and the power output end 148b passing through the heater passing hole 125 may be connected to one first connector 129a.

The first connector 129a may be connected to a second connector 129c, and the second connector 129c is connected to two wires 129d connected in correspondence with the power input terminal 148a and the power output terminal 148 b.

The upper heater 148, the first connector 129a, the second connector 129c, and the first guide 126 guiding the wire 129d may be provided at the upper plate 121 of the upper housing 120.

As an example, fig. 15 shows that the first guide portion 126 guides the first connector 129a.

The first guide portion 126 extends upward from the top surface of the upper plate 121, and an upper end portion may be bent in a horizontal direction.

Therefore, the bent portion of the upper side of the first guide 126 restricts the first connector 129a from moving in the upper direction.

The electric wire 129d may be led out to the outside of the upper case 120 after being bent in a substantially U-shape to prevent interference with the peripheral structure.

The wire 129d extends in a state of being bent more than once, and thus the upper housing 120 may further include wire guides 127, 128 for fixing the position of the wire 129 d.

The wire guides 127, 128 may include a first guide 127 and a second guide 128 arranged to be spaced apart in a horizontal direction. The first guide 127 and the second guide 128 may be bent in a direction corresponding to a bending direction of the electric wire 129d to minimize damage of the bent electric wire 129 d.

That is, the first guide 127 and the second guide 128 may include curved portions, respectively.

One or more of the first and

second guides

127 and 128 may include an upper guide 127a extending toward the other guide to restrict movement of the electric wire 129d located between the first and

second guides

127 and 128 in an upward direction.

Referring to fig. 16, the upper case 120, the upper tray 150, and the upper supporter 170 may be coupled to each other in a state that the upper heater 148 is coupled to the heater coupling portion 124 of the upper case 120.

The first upper protrusion 165 of the upper tray 150 is inserted into the first upper socket 131 of the upper case 120. And, the second upper protrusion 166 of the upper tray 150 is inserted into the second upper socket 132 of the upper case 120.

Then, the first lower protrusion 167 of the upper tray 150 is inserted into the first lower slot 176 of the upper support 170, and the second lower protrusion 168 of the upper tray is inserted into the second lower slot 177 of the upper support 170.

At this time, the fastening boss 175 of the upper supporter 170 is received into the sleeve 133 of the upper case 120 through the through hole 169 of the upper tray 150. In this state, the bolt B1 may be fastened to the fastening boss 175 from above the fastening boss 175.

In a state where the bolt B1 is fastened to the fastening boss 175, the head of the bolt B1 is positioned higher than the upper plate 121.

In contrast, the hinge supports 135, 136 are positioned lower than the upper plate 121, and thus, the upper assembly 110 or the connection unit 350 may be prevented from interfering with the head of the bolt B1 during the rotation of the lower assembly 200.

During assembly of the upper assembly 110, the plurality of unit guides 181, 182 of the upper support 170 protrude above the upper plate 121 through openings (139 a, 139b of fig. 6) located at both sides of the upper plate 121 in the upper housing 120.

The upper ejector 300 penetrates the guide slots 183 of the unit guides 181, 182 protruding above the upper plate 121 in the manner described above.

Accordingly, the upper ejector 300 descends and is introduced into the inside of the upper chamber 152 in a state of being located at the upper side of the upper plate 121, thereby separating ice of the upper chamber 152 from the upper tray 150.

When the upper assembly 110 is assembled, the heater coupling portion 124 coupled with the upper heater 148 is received in the first receiving portion 160 of the upper tray 150.

In a state where the heater coupling portion 124 is received in the first receiving portion 160, the upper heater 148 is in contact with the bottom surface 160a of the first receiving portion 160.

As in the present embodiment, in the case where the upper heater 148 is accommodated in the concave-shaped heater joint 124 and is in contact with the upper tray main body 151, heat transferred from the upper heater 148 to other portions than the upper tray main body 151 can be minimized.

At least a portion of the upper heater 148 may be configured to overlap the upper chamber 152 in the up-down direction such that heat of the upper heater 148 is smoothly transferred to the upper chamber 152.

In the present embodiment, the upper arc portion 148c of the upper heater 148 may overlap with the upper chamber 152 in the up-down direction.

That is, the maximum distance between two points of the upper circular arc portion 148c located on opposite sides from each other with respect to the upper chamber 152 is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the upper chamber 152.

< lower Shell >

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a lower assembly of an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 18 is an upper perspective view of a lower housing of an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 19 is a lower perspective view of a lower housing of an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 17 to 19, a lower tray 250 may be included.

The lower tray 250 may form the ice chamber 111 together with the upper tray 150.

The lower assembly 200 may further include a lower support 270 supporting the lower tray 250. In a state where the lower tray 250 is disposed on the lower support 270, the lower support 270 and the lower tray 250 may be rotated together.

The lower assembly 200 may further include a lower housing 210 for fixing the position of the lower tray 250.

The lower case 210 may surround the periphery of the lower tray 250, and the lower support 270 may support the lower tray 250.

The connection unit 350 may be coupled to the lower support 270.

The connection unit 350 may include: a first link 352 receiving power of the driving unit 180 for rotating the lower support 270; and a second link 356 coupled to the lower support 270 so as to transmit a rotational force of the lower support 270 to the upper ejector 300 when the lower support 270 rotates.

The first link 352 and the lower support 270 may be connected by an elastic member 360. As an example, the elastic member 360 may be a coil spring.

The elastic member 360 has one end connected to the first link 352 and the other end connected to the lower support 270.

The elastic member 360 provides an elastic force to the lower support 270 to maintain a state in which the upper tray 150 is in contact with the lower tray 250.

In this embodiment, the first link 352 and the second link 356 may be provided at both sides of the lower support 270.

Any one of the two first links 352 is connected to the driving unit 180 to receive a rotational force from the driving unit 180.

The two first links 352 may be connected by a connecting shaft (370 of fig. 5).

A hole 358 through which the ejector body 310 of the upper ejector 300 may pass may be formed at an upper end portion of the second link 356.

The lower case 210 may include a lower plate 211 for fixing the lower tray 250.

The lower tray 250 may be fixed in a state that a portion thereof contacts the bottom surface of the lower plate 211.

The lower plate 211 may be provided with an opening 212 for allowing a portion of the lower tray 250 to pass therethrough.

As an example, in a state where the lower tray 250 is positioned at the lower side of the lower plate 211, when the lower tray 250 is fixed to the lower plate 211, a portion of the lower tray 250 may protrude above the lower plate 211 through the opening 212.

The lower housing 210 may further include a peripheral wall 214 (or a cover wall) surrounding the lower tray 250 through the lower plate 211.

The peripheral wall 214 may include a vertical wall 214a and a curved wall 215.

The vertical wall 214a is a wall extending vertically upward from the lower plate 211. The curved wall 215 is a wall having an arc shape which is more and more distant from the opening 212 from the lower plate 211 toward the upper side.

The vertical wall 214a may include a first coupling slot 214b for coupling with the lower tray 250. The first coupling slot 214b may be formed by recessing an upper end of the vertical wall 214a downward.

The curved wall 215 may include a second coupling slot 215a for coupling with the lower tray 250.

The second coupling slot 215a may be formed by recessing an upper end of the curved wall 215 downward.

The lower housing 210 may further include a first fastening boss 216 and a second fastening boss 217.

The first fastening boss 216 may protrude downward from the bottom surface of the lower plate 211. As an example, the plurality of first fastening bosses 216 may protrude downward from the lower plate 211.

The plurality of first fastening bosses 216 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction with reference to fig. 18.

The second fastening boss 217 may protrude downward from the bottom surface of the lower plate 211. As an example, a plurality of second fastening bosses 217 may protrude from the lower plate 211. The plurality of second fastening bosses 217 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction with reference to fig. 18.

The first and

second fastening bosses

216 and 217 may be disposed to be spaced apart in the direction of arrow B.

In the present embodiment, the length of the first fastening boss 216 and the length of the second fastening boss 217 may be formed differently. As an example, the second fastening boss 217 may be formed to have a length longer than that of the first fastening boss 216.

The first fastening member may be fastened to the first fastening boss 216 from an upper side of the first fastening boss 216. Conversely, a second fastening member may be fastened to the second fastening boss 217 from the underside of the second fastening boss 217.

During the fastening of the first fastening member to the first fastening boss 216, the curved wall 215 is provided with a moving groove 215b of the fastening member so that the first fastening member does not interfere with the curved wall 215.

The lower housing 210 may further include a slot 218 for coupling with the lower tray 250.

A portion of the lower tray 250 may be inserted into the slot 218. The slot 218 may be located proximate to the vertical wall 214 a.

As an example, the plurality of slots 218 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the direction of arrow a in fig. 18. Each of the slots 218 may be formed in a curved shape.

The lower case 210 may further include a receiving groove 218a for inserting a portion of the lower tray 250. The receiving groove 218a may be formed by recessing a portion of the lower plate 211 toward the curved wall 215.

The lower case 210 may further include an extension wall 219, and the extension wall 219 is in contact with a portion of a side periphery of the lower plate 211 in a state of being coupled with the lower tray 250. The extension wall 219 may extend in a straight line shape in the direction of arrow a.

< lower tray >

Fig. 20 is an upper perspective view of a lower tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 21 and 22 are lower perspective views of the lower tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 23 is a side view of the lower tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 20 to 23, the lower tray 250 may be formed of a flexible material, and the lower tray 250 may be restored to an original shape after being deformed by an external force.

As an example, the lower tray 250 may be formed of a silicon material. As in the present embodiment, when the lower tray 250 is formed of a silicon material, the lower tray 250 may be restored to the original shape again even if an external force is applied to the lower tray 250 to deform the shape of the lower tray 250 during the ice moving process. Thus, spherical ice can be generated despite the anti-replication of ice.

If the lower tray 250 is formed of a metal material, the lower tray 250 cannot be restored to the original shape again when an external force is applied to the lower tray 250 to deform the lower tray 250 itself.

In this case, after the shape of the lower tray 250 is deformed, spherical ice cannot be generated. That is, spherical ice cannot be repeatedly generated.

In contrast, as in the present embodiment, when the lower tray 250 has a flexible material capable of returning to an original shape, such a problem can be solved.

Also, when the lower tray 250 is formed of a silicon material, the lower tray 250 can be prevented from being melted or thermally deformed by heat supplied from a lower heater, which will be described later.

Also, when the lower tray 250 is formed of a flexible material, a coupling force or adhesive force between ice and the lower tray 250 may be reduced, so that the ice can be easily separated from the lower tray 250.

The lower tray 250 may include a lower tray body 251 forming a lower chamber 252 as a part of the ice chamber 111. The lower tray body 251 may also be referred to as a lower mold body.

The lower tray body 251 may define a plurality of lower chambers 252.

As an example, the plurality of lower chambers 252 may include a first lower chamber 252a, a second lower chamber 252b, and a third lower chamber 252c.

The lower tray body 251 may include three chamber walls 252d forming the independent three

lower chambers

252a, 252b, 252c, and the three chamber walls 252d may be formed as one body and form the lower tray body 251.

The first lower chamber 252a, the second lower chamber 252b, and the third lower chamber 252c may be aligned. As an example, the first, second and third

lower chambers

252a, 252b and 252c may be arranged in the arrow a direction with reference to fig. 20.

The inner circumferential surface of the chamber wall 252d may be formed in a hemispherical shape or a shape similar to a hemispherical shape.

Thus, the lower chamber 252 may be formed in a hemispherical shape or a shape similar to a hemispherical shape. That is, a lower portion in the spherical ice may be formed by the lower chamber 252.

The lower tray 250 may further include a first extension 253 extending in a horizontal direction from an upper end edge of the lower tray body 251. The first extension 253 may be continuously formed along the periphery of the lower tray body 251.

The lower tray 250 may further include a peripheral wall 260 extending upward from a top surface of the first extension 253.

The bottom surface of the upper tray body 151 may be in contact with the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251. The top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 may also be referred to as an end surface (end surface).

The peripheral wall 260 may surround the upper tray body 151 disposed at the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251.

In this embodiment, the peripheral wall 214 of the lower housing 210 may surround the peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250. When the peripheral wall 214 of the lower case 210 surrounds the peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250, the peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 can be restrained from being deformed in an outer direction during rotation of the lower tray 250.

The peripheral wall 260 may include: a first wall 260a surrounding the vertical wall 153a of the upper tray main body 151; and a second wall 260b surrounding the curved wall 153b of the upper tray body 151.

The first wall 260a is a vertical wall extending perpendicularly from the top surface of the first extension 253. The second wall 260b is a curved wall formed in a shape corresponding to the upper tray main body 151. That is, the second wall 260b may be curved in a direction away from the lower chamber 252 from the first extension 253 toward the upper side.

The center of curvature of the second wall 260b may be the center of rotation C2 of the lower assembly 200.

The lower tray 250 may further include a second extension 254 extending from the peripheral wall 260 in a horizontal direction.

The second extension 254 may be located at a higher position than the first extension 253. Thus, the first extension 253 and the second extension 254 form a step.

The second extension 254 may include a first upper protrusion 255 for insertion into the slot 218 of the lower housing 210. The first upper protrusion 255 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the peripheral wall 260 in a horizontal direction.

As an example, the first upper protrusion 255 may protrude upward from the top surface of the second extension 254 at a position adjacent to the first wall 260 a.

The plurality of first upper protrusions 255 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction based on fig. 20, but is not limited thereto. As an example, the first upper protrusion 255 may extend in a curved shape.

The second extension 254 may further include a first lower protrusion 257 for being inserted into a protrusion groove of a lower support 270, which will be described later. The first lower protrusion 257 may protrude downward from the bottom surface of the second extension 254.

The plurality of first lower protrusions 257 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction, but is not limited thereto.

The first upper protrusion 255 and the first lower protrusion 257 may be located at opposite sides with respect to the upper and lower sides of the second extension 254. At least a portion of the first upper protrusion 255 may overlap with the first lower protrusion 257 in the up-down direction.

A plurality of through holes 256 may be formed in the second extension 254.

The plurality of through holes 256 may include: a first through hole 256a through which the first fastening boss 216 of the lower case 210 passes; and a second through hole 256b for passing through the second fastening boss 217 of the lower case 210.

As an example, the plurality of first through holes 256a may be arranged to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction in fig. 20.

The plurality of second through holes 256b may be arranged to be spaced apart in the direction of arrow a in fig. 20.

The plurality of first through holes 256a and the plurality of second through holes 256b may be located on opposite sides with respect to the lower chamber 252.

A portion of the plurality of second through holes 256b may be located between two adjacent first upper protrusions 255. Also, a portion of the plurality of second through holes 256b may be located between the two first lower protrusions 257.

The second extension 254 may further include a second upper protrusion 258. The second upper protrusion 258 may be located on an opposite side of the first upper protrusion 255 from the lower chamber 252.

The second upper protrusion 258 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the peripheral wall 260 in a horizontal direction. As an example, the second upper protrusion 258 may protrude upward from the top surface of the second extension 254 at a position adjacent to the second wall 260 b.

The plurality of second upper protrusions 258 may be disposed to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction of fig. 20, but is not limited thereto.

The second upper protrusion 258 may be received in the receiving groove 218a of the lower case 210. In a state where the second upper protrusion 258 is received in the receiving groove 218a, the second upper protrusion 258 may contact the curved wall 215 of the lower case 210.

The peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may include a first coupling protrusion 262 for coupling with the lower case 210.

The first coupling protrusion 262 may protrude from the first wall 260a of the peripheral wall 260 in a horizontal direction. The first coupling protrusion 262 may be located at a side upper side portion of the first wall 260 a.

The first coupling protrusion 262 may include a neck portion 262a, and the neck portion 262a may have a smaller diameter than other portions. The neck 262a may be inserted into a first coupling slot 214b formed in the peripheral wall 214 of the lower housing 210.

The peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may further include a second coupling protrusion 262c for coupling with the lower case 210.

The second coupling protrusion 262c may protrude from the second wall 260b of the peripheral wall 260 in a horizontal direction. The second coupling protrusion 262c may be inserted into a second coupling slot 215a formed at the outer peripheral wall 214 of the lower case 210.

As in the present embodiment, each of the coupling protrusions 262, 262c provided to the outer peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 is inserted into the

coupling slots

214b, 215a formed in the outer peripheral wall of the lower case 210, whereby the outer peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 can be prevented from being deformed in an inward direction during the rotation of the lower tray 250.

As an example, a portion of the peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may be prevented from being inwardly deformed to be introduced into the upper chamber 152 during the movement of the lower assembly 200 from the ice moving position to the ice making position.

The second extension 254 may further include a second lower projection 266. The second lower projection 266 may be located on the opposite side of the first lower projection 257 from the lower chamber 252.

The second lower protrusion 266 may protrude downward from the bottom surface of the second extension 254. As an example, the second lower protrusion 266 may extend in a straight line shape.

A portion of the plurality of first through-holes 256a may be located between the second lower projection 266 and the lower chamber 252.

The second lower protrusion 266 may be received in a guide groove formed in a lower support 270 described later.

The second extension 254 may further include a side restraint 264. The side restricting portion 264 restricts the movement of the lower tray 250 in the horizontal direction in a state where the lower tray 250 is coupled with the lower case 210 and the lower support 270.

The side restricting portion 264 protrudes sidewardly from the second extending portion 254, and an up-down length of the side restricting portion 264 is formed to be greater than a thickness of the second extending portion 254. As an example, a part of the side restricting portion 264 is located higher than the top surface of the second extending portion 254, and another part is located lower than the bottom surface of the second extending portion 254.

Accordingly, a portion of the side restraining part 264 may be in contact with the side of the lower case 210, and another portion may be in contact with the side of the lower supporter 270.

In addition, the lower tray main body 251 may be provided with a heater contact portion 251a for contacting the lower heater 296.

As an example, the heater contact portion 251a may be provided at each of the chamber walls 252 d. The heater contact 251a may protrude from the chamber wall 252 d. As an example, the heater contact portion 251a may be formed in a circular ring shape.

< lower support >

Fig. 24 is an upper perspective view of a lower support member of an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 25 is a lower perspective view of the lower support member of an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 26 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of fig. 17 for illustrating a state in which a lower assembly is assembled.

Referring to fig. 24 to 26, the lower support 270 may cover more than 1/2 of the lower chamber 252 to be able to maintain the shape of the lower chamber 252 during ice making.

The lower support 270 may include a support body 271 supporting the lower tray 250.

The support body 271 may include three chamber receiving portions 272 for receiving the three chamber walls 252d of the lower tray 250. The chamber receiving part 272 may be formed in a hemispherical shape.

The support body 271 may include a lower opening 274, and the lower opening 274 serves to pass through the lower ejector 400 during ice removal. As an example, the support body 271 may be provided with three lower openings 274 corresponding to the three chamber accommodating portions 272.

A reinforcing rib 275 for reinforcing strength may be provided along the periphery of the lower opening 274.

And, adjacent two of the three chamber accommodating parts 272 may be connected by a connection rib 273. Such a connection rib 273 may enhance the strength of the chamber accommodating part 272.

The lower support 270 may further include a first extension wall 285 extending in a horizontal direction from an upper end of the support body 271.

The lower support 270 may further include a second extension wall 286 stepped with the first extension wall 285 at an edge of the first extension wall 285.

The top surface of the second extension wall 286 may be located at a higher position than the first extension wall 285.

The first extension 253 of the lower tray 250 may be disposed at the top surface 271a of the support body 271, and the second extension wall 286 may surround the side of the first extension 253 of the lower tray 250. At this time, the second extension wall 286 may contact a side surface of the first extension 253 of the lower tray 250.

The lower support 270 may further include a projection slot 287 for receiving the first lower projection 257 of the lower tray 250.

The raised groove 287 may extend in a curved shape. As an example, the protruding groove 287 may be formed in the second extension wall 286.

The lower supporter 270 may further include a first fastening groove 286a, and the first fastening member B2 penetrating the first fastening boss 216 of the upper case 120 is fastened to the first fastening groove 286a.

As an example, the first fastening groove 286a may be provided at the second extension wall 286.

A plurality of first fastening slots 286a may be disposed spaced apart in the direction of arrow a at the second extension wall 286. A portion of the plurality of first fastening slots 286a may be located between adjacent two of the raised slots 287.

The lower support 270 may further include a boss through hole 286b for passing through the second fastening boss 217 of the upper housing 120.

As an example, the boss through hole 286b may be provided in the second extension wall 286. A sleeve 286c surrounding the second fastening boss 217 penetrating the boss through hole 286b may be provided at the second extension wall 286. The sleeve 286c may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a lower portion opened.

The first fastening member B2 may be fastened to the first fastening groove 286a after penetrating the first fastening boss 216 from above the lower case 210.

The second fastening member B3 may be fastened to the second fastening boss 217 from below the lower support 270.

The lower end of the sleeve 286c may be located at the same height as the lower end of the second fastening boss 217, or may be located at a lower position than the lower end of the second fastening boss 217.

Thus, during fastening of the second fastening member B3, the head of the second fastening member B3 may contact the second fastening boss 217 and the bottom surface of the sleeve 286c, or the bottom surface of the sleeve 286 c.

The lower supporter 270 may further include an outer wall 280, and the outer wall 280 may be disposed to surround the lower tray body 251 in a state of being spaced apart from the outside of the lower tray body 251.

As an example, the outer wall 280 may extend downward along an edge of the second extending wall 286.

The lower support 270 may further include a plurality of

hinge bodies

281, 282 for connection with each

hinge support

135, 136 of the upper housing 120.

The plurality of

hinge bodies

281, 282 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the arrow a direction of fig. 24. Each of the

hinge bodies

281, 282 may further include a second hinge hole 281a.

The shaft coupling portion 353 of the first link 352 may pass through the second hinge hole 281a. The connection shaft 370 may be connected to the shaft connection portion 353.

The interval between the plurality of

hinge bodies

281, 282 is smaller than the interval between the plurality of hinge supports 135, 136. Thus, the plurality of

hinge bodies

281, 282 may be located between the plurality of hinge supports 135, 136.

The lower support 270 may further include a coupling shaft 283, and the second link 356 may be rotatably coupled to the coupling shaft 283. The coupling shafts 283 may be provided on both sides of the outer wall 280, respectively.

The lower support 270 may further include an elastic member coupling portion 284 for coupling the elastic member 360. The elastic member coupling part 284 may form a space capable of accommodating a portion of the elastic member 360. The elastic member 360 is accommodated in the elastic member coupling portion 284, whereby the elastic member 360 can be prevented from interfering with the peripheral structure.

The elastic member coupling part 284 may include a locking part 284a for locking the lower end of the elastic member 360.

< Structure for combining lower Heater >

Fig. 27 is a plan view of a lower support member according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 28 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lower heater is coupled to the lower support member of fig. 27, and fig. 29 is a view showing a state in which an electric wire connected to the lower heater penetrates an upper case in a state in which a lower assembly is coupled to an upper assembly.

Referring to fig. 27 to 29, the ice maker 100 of the present embodiment may further include a lower heater 296 for applying heat to the lower tray 250 during ice making.

The lower heater 296 provides heat to the lower chamber 252 during ice making such that ice begins to freeze from the upper side within the ice chamber 111.

Further, since the lower heater 296 generates heat during ice making, bubbles in the ice chamber 111 move downward during ice making, and when ice making is completed, other portions except the lowermost end portion of the spherical ice may be made transparent. That is, according to the present embodiment, substantially transparent spherical ice may be generated.

As an example, the lower heater 296 may be a wire type heater.

The lower heater 296 may be disposed at the lower support 270. In addition, the lower heater 296 may be in contact with the lower tray 250 to provide heat to the lower chamber 252.

As an example, the lower heater 296 may be in contact with the lower tray main body 251. The lower heater 296 may be configured to surround the three chamber walls 252d of the lower tray body 251.

The lower support 270 may further include a heater coupling 290 for coupling the lower heater 296.

The heater coupling portion 290 may include a heater receiving groove 291 recessed downward from the chamber receiving portion 272 of the lower tray body 251.

The heater joint 290 may include an inner wall 291a and an outer wall 291b by the recess of the heater receiving groove 291.

As an example, the inner wall 291a may be formed in a ring shape, and the outer wall 291b may be configured to surround the inner wall 291a.

When the lower heater 296 is received in the heater receiving groove 291, the lower heater 296 may surround at least a portion of the inner wall 291a.

The lower opening 274 may be located in a region formed by the inner wall 291a. Accordingly, when the chamber wall 252d of the lower tray 250 is received in the chamber receiving part 272, the chamber wall 252d may contact the top surface of the inner wall 291a. The top surface of the inner wall 291a is an arc-shaped surface corresponding to the hemispherical chamber wall 252d.

In a state where the lower heater 296 is received in the heater receiving groove 291, a diameter of the lower heater 296 may be formed to be greater than a recessed depth of the heater receiving groove 291 such that a portion of the lower heater 296 protrudes outside the heater receiving groove 291.

An escape prevention protrusion 291c may be provided at one or more of the outer wall 291b and the inner wall 291a to prevent the lower heater 296 accommodated in the heater accommodation groove 291 from escaping from the heater accommodation groove 291.

The detachment prevention protrusion 291c is shown in fig. 27 to be provided to the inner wall 291a.

The inner wall 291a has a smaller diameter than the chamber housing 272, and thus, during assembly of the lower heater 296, the lower heater 296 moves along the surface of the chamber housing 272 and is received in the heater receiving groove 291.

That is, the lower heater 296 is accommodated in the heater accommodation groove 291 from above the outer wall 291b toward the inner wall 291a. Accordingly, the detachment preventing protrusion 291c is preferably formed at the inner wall 291a to prevent the lower heater 296 from interfering with the detachment preventing protrusion 291c during the accommodation of the lower heater 296 in the heater accommodation groove 291.

The detachment prevention protrusion 291c may protrude from an upper end portion of the inner wall 291a toward the outer wall 291 b.

The protruding length of the detachment prevention protrusion 291c may be formed to be 1/2 or less of the interval between the outer wall 291b and the inner wall 291 a.

As shown in fig. 28, in a state where the lower heater 296 is accommodated in the heater accommodation groove 291, the lower heater 296 may be divided into a lower circular arc portion 296a and a straight portion 296b.

That is, the heater accommodation groove 291 includes a lower circular arc portion and a linear portion, and the lower heater 296 may be divided into the lower circular arc portion 296a and the linear portion 296b corresponding to the lower circular arc portion and the linear portion of the heater accommodation groove 291.

The lower arc 296a is a portion disposed along the periphery of the lower chamber 252, and is a portion curved in an arc shape in the horizontal direction.

The straight portion 296b is a portion connecting the lower circular arc portions 296a corresponding to the respective lower chambers 252.

In the lower heater 296, the possibility that the lower circular arc portion 296a is separated from the heater accommodation groove 291 is high, and therefore, the separation preventing protrusion 291c may be disposed to contact the lower circular arc portion 296 a.

A through opening 291d may be provided on the bottom surface of the heater accommodation groove 291. When the lower heater 296 is received in the heater receiving groove 291, a portion of the lower heater 296 may be located at the through-opening 291d. As an example, the through opening 291d may be located at a portion facing the detachment prevention protrusion 291 c.

When the lower heater 296 is curved in an arc shape in the horizontal direction, a wire may be broken due to an increase in tension of the lower heater 296, and the lower heater 296 is likely to be detached from the heater accommodation groove 291.

However, in the case where the heater accommodation groove 291 forms a through opening 291d as in the present embodiment, a portion of the lower heater 296 may be located at the through opening 291d, thereby reducing tension of the lower heater 296 and preventing a phenomenon in which the lower heater 296 is detached from the heater accommodation groove 291.

The lower support 270 may include: a first guide groove 293 for guiding the power input end 296c and the power output end 296d of the lower heater 296 received in the heater receiving groove 291; and a second guide groove 294 extending in a direction crossing the first guide groove 293.

As an example, the first guide groove 293 may extend from the heater accommodation groove 291 in the direction of arrow B.

The second guide groove 294 may extend from an end of the first guide groove 293 in the direction of arrow a. In the present embodiment, the arrow a direction is a direction parallel to the extending direction of the rotation center axis C1 of the lower assembly 200.

Referring to fig. 28, the first guide groove 293 may extend from any one of the left and right chamber accommodating parts except the center part among the three chamber accommodating parts.

As an example, fig. 28 shows a case where the first guide groove 293 extends from a chamber accommodating portion located on the left side among the three chamber accommodating portions.

As shown in fig. 28, the power input end 296c and the power output end 296d of the lower heater 296 may be accommodated in the first guide groove 293 in a side-by-side configuration.

The power input end 296c and the power output end 296d of the lower heater 296 may be connected to a first connector 297a.

The first connector 297a may be connected to a second connector 297b, and the second connector 297b is connected with two wires 298 connected in a corresponding manner to the power input terminal 296c and the power output terminal 296 d.

In the present embodiment, the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are accommodated in the second guide groove 294 in a state where the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are connected.

The electric wire 298 connected to the second connector 297b is led out from the end of the second guide groove 294 to the outside of the lower support 270 through an lead-out slot 295 formed in the lower support 270.

According to the present embodiment, the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are received in the second guide groove 294, and thus, there is an advantage in that the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are not exposed to the outside when the assembly of the lower assembly 200 is completed.

As described above, if the first and

second connectors

297a and 297b are not exposed to the outside, it is possible to prevent the first and

second connectors

297a and 297b from interfering with peripheral structures and to prevent the first and

second connectors

297a and 297b from being separated during the rotation of the lower assembly 200.

Further, the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are accommodated in the second guide groove 294, and thus, a part of the electric wire 298 is positioned in the second guide groove 294 and the other part is positioned outside the lower support 270 through the drawing slot 295.

At this time, the second guide groove 294 extends in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis C1 of the lower assembly 200, and thus, a portion of the electric wire 298 also extends in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis C1.

Another portion of the electric wire 298 extends outside the lower support 270 in a direction intersecting the rotation center axis C1.

According to such an arrangement of the electric wire 298, during the rotation of the lower assembly 200, a tensile force is hardly applied to the electric wire 298, and a torsion force (torsion) is applied.

The possibility of breakage of the electric wire 298 is very low in the case of applying the torsion force, as compared with the case of applying the tension force to the electric wire 298.

In the case of the present embodiment, the lower heater 296 is maintained in a fixed position during rotation of the lower assembly 200 and a torsion force is applied to the electric wire 298, and thus, damage of the lower heater 296 and breakage of the electric wire 298 can be prevented.

A separation preventing protrusion 293a may be provided at one or more of the first guide groove 293 and the second guide groove 294, and the separation preventing protrusion 293a may be used to prevent the separation of the lower heater 296 or the electric wire 298 accommodated inside the guide groove.

The power input end 296c and the power output end 296d of the lower heater 296 are located in the first guide groove 293. At this time, heat is also generated at the power input end 296c and the power output end 296d, and thus, the heat supplied to the chamber accommodating portion on the left side where the first guide groove 293 extends is greater than the heat supplied to the other chamber accommodating portions.

In this case, if the amount of heat supplied to each chamber accommodating part is different, the transparency of the manufactured spherical ice may also be different from ice to ice after the ice making and the ice transferring are completed.

Therefore, a chamber accommodating part (e.g., a right chamber accommodating part) farthest from the first guide groove 293 among the three chamber accommodating parts may be further provided with a detour accommodating groove 292 to minimize a case where a difference in transparency of each ice becomes large.

As an example, the detour receiving groove 292 may be formed in a shape that extends outward from the heater receiving groove 291, is bent, and is then connected to the heater receiving groove 291.

When the portion 296e of the lower heater 296 is additionally accommodated in the bypass accommodation groove 292, the contact area between the chamber wall of the chamber accommodation portion 272 accommodated on the right side and the lower heater 296 can be increased.

Therefore, the right chamber housing portion 272 may be additionally provided with a protrusion 292a for fixing the position of the lower heater housed in the bypass housing groove 292.

Referring to fig. 29, in a state where the lower module 200 is coupled to the upper case 120 of the upper module 110, the electric wire 298 led out to the outside of the lower support 270 penetrates through the electric wire penetration slot 138 formed in the upper case 120, so as to be able to extend upward of the upper case 120.

The wire through slot 138 may be provided with a restricting guide 139 for restricting movement of the wire 298 passing through the wire through slot 138. The restricting guide 139 is formed in a shape bent a plurality of times, and the electric wire 298 may be located in a region formed by the restricting guide.

Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of fig. 3, and fig. 31 is a view showing a state in which ice generation in fig. 30 is completed.

Fig. 30 shows a state in which the upper tray and the lower tray are in contact.

First, referring to fig. 30, the ice chamber 111 is completed by the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 contacting in the up-down direction.

At this time, the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 may be formed of the same material.

When the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 are formed of the same material such that the hardness of the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 are the same, the adhesion force between each other is reduced in a state where the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray 150 is in contact with the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250.

In contrast, when the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 are different in hardness, the degree of deformation of the relatively soft tray is greater in a state where the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray 150 is in contact with the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250, thereby increasing the adhesion force of the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray 150 and the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250.

During the ice moving process, the upper ejector 300 penetrates the upper opening 154 to press the ice of the ice chamber 111.

At this time, it is necessary to prevent the upper tray 150 from being deformed together with the ice in the process that the upper ejector 300 presses the ice. In contrast, in the process of pressing the ice by the lower ejector 400, the lower tray 250 needs to be smoothly deformed to improve the ice separation performance.

Accordingly, the upper tray 150 may be formed to have a hardness greater than that of the lower tray 250.

Also, when the hardness of the upper tray 150 is the same as that of the lower tray 250, the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 serve as one tray at a contact portion of the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 after ice making is completed, and thus, the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 may not be easily separated.

However, when the hardness of the upper tray 150 is formed to be greater than that of the lower tray 250, the adhesion force of the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 during ice making is improved, and the lower tray 250 and the upper tray 150 can be easily separated when the lower tray 250 is rotated during ice moving.

The bottom surface 151a of the upper tray body 151 contacts the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251.

At this time, the elastic force of the elastic member 360 is applied to the lower supporter 270 in a state where the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 is in contact with the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray body 151.

The elastic force of the elastic member 360 is applied to the lower tray 250 through the lower support 270 so that the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 presses the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray body 151.

Therefore, in a state where the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 is in contact with the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray body 151, the adhesion force is improved by pressing each surface against each other.

As described above, when the adhesion force between the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 and the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray body 151 increases, since there is no gap between the two surfaces, it is possible to prevent ice from forming in a thin band shape along the periphery of spherical ice after ice making is completed.

The first extension 253 of the lower tray 250 is disposed on the top surface 271a of the support body 271 of the lower support 270. The second extension wall 286 of the lower support 270 contacts the side of the first extension 253 of the lower tray 250.

The second extension 254 of the lower tray 250 may be disposed at the second extension wall 286 of the lower support 270.

The upper tray body 151 may be accommodated in an inner space of the outer peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 in a state where the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray body 151 is disposed on the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251.

At this time, the vertical wall 153a of the upper tray body 151 is disposed to face the vertical wall 260a of the lower tray 250, and the curved wall 153b of the upper tray body 151 is disposed to face the second wall 260b of the lower tray 250.

The outer surface of the chamber wall 153 of the upper tray body 151 is spaced from the inner surface of the peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250. That is, a space is formed between the outer surface of the chamber wall 153 of the upper tray main body 151 and the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250.

The water supplied through the water supply part 190 is contained in the ice chamber 111, and when the amount of the supplied water is greater than the volume of the ice chamber 111, the water that cannot be contained in the ice chamber 111 is stored in a space between the outer surface of the chamber wall 153 of the upper tray main body 151 and the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the amount of water supplied is greater than the volume of the ice chamber 111, water is prevented from overflowing the ice maker 100.

The larger the space (or gap) is, the larger the volume of the lower assembly 200 is, and thus, the space (or gap) is formed to be smaller than the thickness of the peripheral wall 260 to prevent the volume of the lower assembly 200 from increasing.

The space (or gap) may be formed to be greater than 1/100 and less than 1/50 of the diameter of the ice chamber 111.

In a state where the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 is in contact with the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray body 151, the top surface of the peripheral wall 260 may be located at a higher position than the upper opening 154 of the upper tray 150 or the upper chamber 152.

In addition, as described above, the lower tray main body 251 may be further provided with a heater contact portion 251a for increasing a contact area with the lower heater 296.

The heater contact part 251a may protrude from the bottom surface of the lower tray body 251. As an example, the heater contact 251a may protrude from the chamber wall 252d having an outer surface of an arc shape.

The heater contact 251a may be configured in a ring shape. The bottom surface of the heater contact 251a may be a plane. Accordingly, the heater contact portion 251a may be in surface contact with the lower heater 296.

In a state where the lower heater 296 is in contact with the heater contact portion 251a, the lower heater 296 may be located at a position lower than a middle point of the height of the lower chamber 252, but is not limited thereto.

A portion of the heater contact portion 251a may be located between the top surface of the inner wall 291a and the top surface of the outer wall 291b in a state where the heater contact portion 251a is in contact with the lower heater 296.

The lower tray main body 251 may further include a protrusion 251b, and a lower portion of the protrusion 251b may be formed to protrude upward. As an example, the chamber wall 252d may include the protrusion 251b.

Referring to fig. 30, a portion of the chamber wall 252d is supported by the lower support 270 and another portion is not supported by the lower support 270. Thus, the chamber wall 252d may include a contact area that contacts the lower support 270 and a non-contact area that does not contact the lower support 270. At least a portion of the convex portion 251b may be disposed at the non-contact region.

The convex portion 251b may be disposed in a convex manner toward the center of the ice chamber 111. The lower chamber 252 may be formed in a hemispherical shape, except for the convex portion 251 b.

On the other hand, the convex portion 251b may protrude in a direction away from the lower opening 274 of the lower support 270.

A recess 251c is formed at a lower side of the protrusion 251b such that a thickness of the protrusion 251b is substantially the same as that of other portions of the lower tray body 251.

In the present specification, "substantially identical" is meant to include identical and almost indiscriminately similar concepts, although not identical.

The convex portion 251b may be disposed to face the lower opening 274 of the lower support 270 in the up-down direction. The center of the protrusion 251b may coincide with the center of the lower opening 274.

A vertical center line C3 passing through the center of the ice chamber 111 may pass through the upper opening 154, the convex portion 251b, and the lower opening 274.

The heater contact 251a may be configured to surround the protrusion 251b.

The lower opening 274 may be located vertically below the lower chamber 252. That is, the lower opening 274 may be located vertically below the convex portion 251b.

The diameter D2 of the lower opening 274 may be smaller than the radius (1/2 x D7) of the ice chamber 111 such that the contact area between the lower support 270 and the lower tray 250 increases.

The diameter D1 of the convex portion 251b may be formed smaller than the diameter D2 of the lower opening 274.

In a state where water is supplied to the ice chamber 111, when cool air is supplied to the ice chamber 111, liquid water is changed into solid ice. At this time, the water expands during the phase change of the water into ice, and the expansion force of the water is transferred to the upper tray main body 151 and the lower tray main body 251, respectively.

In the case of the present embodiment, another portion of the lower tray body 251 is surrounded by the support body 271, and a portion corresponding to the lower opening 274 of the support body 271 (hereinafter, referred to as a "corresponding portion") is not surrounded.

If the lower tray main body 251 is formed in a complete hemispherical shape, in the case where the expansion force of the water is applied to a portion of the lower tray main body 251 corresponding to the lower opening 274, the corresponding portion of the lower tray main body 251 is deformed toward the lower opening 274 side.

In this case, the water supplied to the ice chamber 111 exists in a spherical shape before ice is made, but after the ice is completely made, additional ice in a convex shape corresponding to a space generated by the deformation of the corresponding portion is made on the spherical ice due to the deformation of the corresponding portion of the lower tray main body 251.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in consideration of the deformation of the lower tray body 251, the convex portion 251b is formed at the lower tray body 251 so that the ice made is as nearly as possible to a complete spherical shape. The increase in volume of ice can be compensated by the protrusion 251b during the ice making process.

A line passing through the center of the ice chamber 111 in the up-down direction in fig. 30 may be referred to as a vertical center line C3. As an example, the vertical centerline C3 may pass through the upper opening 154 and the lower opening 274.

In the present embodiment, the convex portion 251b is pressed by the lower ejector 400 during the ice moving process.

The lower heater 296 may be located radially outward of the lower opening 274 to prevent the lower ejector 400 from interfering with the lower heater 296 during the pressing of the protrusion 251b by the lower ejector 400. Also, the lower heater 296 may be located radially outward of the convex portion 251b.

As an example, the lower circular arc portion of the lower heater 296 may be disposed to surround the convex portion 251b in the horizontal direction on the radially outer side of the convex portion 251b.

As shown in fig. 30, before ice making is completed, the lowest point 251g of the lower tray 250 is located at a position spaced apart from the vertical center line C3.

Before the ice making is completed, the lowest point 111a of the ice chamber 111 may be located at a higher position than the lower heater 296.

Also, at least a portion of the lower heater 296 may be located at a higher position than the lowest point 251g of the lower tray 250 before ice making is completed.

Before the ice making is completed, the highest point 251d of the protrusion 251b may be located at a higher position than the lowest point 111a of the ice chamber 111. Also, the highest point 251c1 of the recess 251c may be located at a position lower than the lowest point 111a of the ice chamber 111.

Before the ice making is completed, the highest point 251c1 of the recess 251c may be located at a higher position than the lower heater 296 or the heater contact 251 a.

Before the ice making is completed, the highest point 251c1 of the recess 251c may be located at a higher position than the lowest point 251g of the lower tray 250.

In addition, the diameter D1 of the protrusion 251b is formed to be smaller than the diameter D2 of the lower opening 274, and thus, as shown in fig. 31, when ice making is completed, the protrusion 251b may be deformed to be located inside the lower opening 274.

And, when ice making is completed, the lowest point 251f of the lower tray 250 may be located on the vertical center line C3. Alternatively, when ice making is completed, the lowest point 251f of the lower tray 250 may be close to the vertical center line C3.

Accordingly, the distance between the lowest point 251f of the lower tray 250 after the completion of the ice making and the vertical center line C3 is smaller than the distance between the lowest point 251g of the lower tray 250 before the completion of the ice making and the vertical center line C3.

When the ice making is completed, the lowest point 251f of the lower tray 250 may be located at a lower position than the lower heater 296.

When the ice making is completed, the lowest point 111b of the ice chamber 111 may be located at a lower position than the highest point of the lower heater 296.

In the case of this embodiment, the water supplied to the ice chamber 111 does not have a spherical shape before ice making, but after ice making is completed, the convex portion 251b of the lower tray body 251 is deformed toward the lower opening 274 side, and thus spherical ice may be generated.

In the present embodiment, even if the convex portion 251b is formed, the concave portion 251c is formed at the lower side of the convex portion 251b, whereby the convex portion 251b can be easily deformed. Also, after the convex portion 251b is deformed by the concave portion 251c, if the external force is removed, the convex portion 251b can be easily restored to the original shape.

Next, an ice making process of the ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Fig. 32 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in a water supply state, and fig. 33 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice making state.

Fig. 34 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-making completed state, fig. 35 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-removing initial state, and fig. 36 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-removing completed state.

Referring to fig. 32 to 36, first, the lower assembly 200 is rotated to a water supply position.

In the water supply position of the lower assembly 200, the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 is spaced apart from the bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150. The bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150 may be referred to as an end surface (end surface).

The bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150 may be located at the same or similar height as the rotation center C2 (may also be referred to as a horizontal rotation axis (horizontal rotation axis)) of the lower assembly 200, but is not limited thereto.

The rotation center C2 of the lower assembly 200 may be located on a plane extending from the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250. Alternatively, the rotation center C2 of the lower assembly 200 may be located on a plane extending from the contact surface of the lower tray 250 and the upper tray 150.

In the present embodiment, a direction (counterclockwise direction with reference to the drawing) in which the lower assembly 200 is rotated for ice removal is referred to as a forward direction, and a direction (clockwise direction) opposite thereto is referred to as a reverse direction.

In the water supply position of the lower assembly 200, an angle formed by the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 and the bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150 may be approximately 8 degrees, but is not limited thereto.

In the state as described above, water supplied from the outside is guided by the water supply part 190 and supplied to the ice chamber 111.

At this time, water may be supplied to the ice chamber 111 through one of the plurality of upper openings 154 of the upper tray 150.

In a state where the water supply is completed, a part of the supplied water fills the lower chamber 252, and another part of the supplied water may be stored in a space between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250.

As an example, the volume of the upper chamber 152 may be the same as the volume of the space between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250. At this time, the water between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 may completely fill the upper tray 150. Of course, the volume of the upper chamber 152 may be greater than the volume of the space between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250.

In the case of the present embodiment, there are no passages for communication between the three lower chambers 252 in the lower tray 250.

As described above, even though the lower tray 250 does not have a passage for moving water, since the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 is spaced apart from the bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150, water may flow to other lower chambers along the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 when water fills a specific lower chamber during water supply.

Accordingly, the plurality of lower chambers 252 of the lower tray 250 may be respectively filled with water.

Also, in the case of the present embodiment, since the lower tray 250 does not have a passage for communicating with the lower chamber 252, additional ice in a convex shape can be prevented from being formed at the periphery of ice after ice making is completed.

In a state where the water supply is completed, as shown in fig. 33, the lower assembly 200 is reversely rotated. When the lower assembly 200 is rotated in a reverse direction, the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 approaches the bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150.

At this time, water between the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 and the bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150 is distributed to the inside of each of the plurality of upper chambers 152.

When the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 and the bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150 are completely closely adhered, the upper chamber 152 is filled with water.

The position of the lower assembly 200 in a state where the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 contacts the bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150 may be referred to as an ice making position. Alternatively, the ice making position may also be referred to as a closed position (closed position).

The upper ends 260d, 260e of the peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may be positioned higher than the upper opening 154 during water supply to prevent water, which moves to the space (or gap) during the movement of the lower assembly 200 from the water supply position to the ice making position due to excessive water supply, from overflowing.

Also, the upper ends 260d, 260e of the peripheral wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may be located at a position higher than the highest water level in the ice chamber 111.

In the ice making position, the second wall 260b of the peripheral walls 260 is located closer to the rotation center C2 of the lower assembly 200 (or lower tray 250) than the first wall 260 a.

As an example, the center of curvature of the second wall 260b may coincide with the rotation center C2.

Ice making starts in a state where the lower assembly 200 is moved to the ice making position.

During ice making, the pressing force of water is smaller than the force for deforming the convex portion 251b of the lower tray 250, and thus, the convex portion 251b is not deformed but maintains the original shape.

When ice making begins, the lower heater 296 is activated. When the lower heater 296 is activated, heat of the lower heater 296 is transferred to the lower tray 250.

Accordingly, if ice making is performed in a state where the lower heater 296 is activated, ice making starts from the upper left side within the ice chamber 111.

That is, water starts to become ice from the upper opening 154 side in the ice chamber 111. Since ice is generated from the upper side in the ice chamber 111, bubbles in the ice chamber 111 move downward.

In the present embodiment, the output of the lower heater 296 may vary according to the mass per unit height of water within the ice chamber 111.

When the heating amounts of the lower heaters 296 are the same, since the mass per unit height of the water in the ice chamber 111 is different, the generation speed of ice per unit height may be different.

For example, when the mass per unit height of water is small, the ice generation speed is high, and conversely, when the mass per unit height of water is large, the ice generation speed is low.

When the ice making speed at each level of water is not constant, the transparency of ice at each unit level may be different. In particular, when the ice generation speed is high, bubbles cannot move from the ice to the water side and the bubbles are contained in the ice, and thus transparency may be low.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, control may be performed in such a manner that the output of the lower heater 296 is changed according to the mass per unit height of the water of the ice chamber 111.

When the ice chamber 111 is formed in a spherical shape, the mass per unit height of water increases from the upper side toward the lower side, and reaches a maximum value at the boundary of the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250, and then decreases toward the lower side.

Thus, in the case of the present embodiment, the output of the lower heater 296 may be decreased from the initial output and then increased.

In the ice chamber 111, ice contacts with the top surface of the convex part 251b of the lower tray 250 during ice generation from the upper side toward the lower side.

In this state, if ice is continuously generated, as shown in fig. 35, the convex part 251b is pressed to be deformed, and when ice making is completed, spherical ice may be generated.

The control unit, not shown, may determine whether or not the ice making is completed based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 500.

The lower heater 296 may be turned off when or before ice making is completed.

When ice making is completed, the upper heater 148 is first activated to remove ice from the ice. When the upper heater 148 is activated, heat of the upper heater 148 is transferred to the upper tray 150, so that ice may be separated from the surface (inner surface) of the upper tray 150.

When the upper heater 148 is operated for a set time, the upper heater 148 is turned off, and the lower assembly 200 may be rotated in a forward direction by operating the driving unit 180.

As shown in fig. 36, the lower tray 250 is spaced apart from the upper tray 150 when the lower assembly 200 is rotated in a forward direction.

The rotational force of the lower assembly 200 is transmitted to the upper ejector 300 through the connection unit 350. At this time, the upper ejector 300 is lowered by the unit guides 181, 182, thereby introducing the upper ejector pin 320 into the upper chamber 152 through the upper opening 154.

During the ice moving process, the ice may be separated from the upper tray 150 before the upper ejector pin 320 presses the ice. That is, ice may be separated from the surface of the upper tray 150 by the heat of the upper heater 148.

In this case, the ice may rotate together with the lower assembly 200 in a state of being supported by the lower tray 250.

Alternatively, there may be a case where ice is not separated from the surface of the upper tray 150 even if heat of the upper heater 148 is applied to the upper tray 150.

Accordingly, when the lower assembly 200 is rotated in the forward direction, ice may be separated from the lower tray 250 in a state of being closely adhered to the upper tray 150.

In this state, during the rotation of the lower assembly 200, the upper ejector pin 320 passing through the upper opening 154 presses the ice closely contacting the upper tray 150, thereby allowing the ice to be separated from the upper tray 150. The ice separated from the upper tray 150 may be again supported by the lower tray 250.

In a state where ice is supported by the lower tray 250, when the ice rotates together with the lower assembly 200, the ice may be separated from the lower tray 250 due to its own weight even if an external force is not applied to the lower tray 250.

Even though ice is not separated from the lower tray 250 by its own weight during the rotation of the lower assembly 200, as shown in fig. 36, ice may be separated from the lower tray 250 when the lower tray 250 is pressed by the lower ejector 400. The position of fig. 36 may be referred to as an ice-displacement position (ice separation position). The ice-moving position may be referred to as an open position (open position).

Specifically, the lower tray 250 is in contact with the lower ejector pin 420 during rotation of the lower assembly 200.

When the lower assembly 200 is continuously rotated in the forward direction, the lower push-out pin 420 presses the lower tray 250, thereby deforming the lower tray 250, and the pressing force of the lower push-out pin 420 is transmitted to the ice, so that the ice may be separated from the surface of the lower tray 250. Ice separated from the surface of the lower tray 250 may drop downward and be stored in the ice bank 102.

After the ice is separated from the lower tray 250, the lower assembly 200 is reversely rotated again by the driving unit 180.

The deformed lower tray 250 may be restored to the original shape when the lower ejector pin 420 is spaced apart from the lower tray 250 during the reverse rotation of the lower assembly 200. That is, the deformed convex portion 251b may be restored to the original shape again.

During the reverse rotation of the lower assembly 200, a rotation force is transmitted to the upper ejector 300 through the connection unit 350, thereby lifting the upper ejector 300, and the upper ejector pin 320 is disengaged from the upper chamber 152.

When the lower assembly 200 reaches the water supply position, the driving unit 180 stops, and water supply is started again.

Claims

1. An ice maker, comprising:

an upper tray assembly including an upper mold portion having at least one upper cavity; and

a lower tray assembly comprising a lower mold portion having at least one lower chamber and being flexible; a lower support member covering an outer peripheral surface of the lower mold portion,

the lower tray assembly is movable relative to the upper tray assembly between an open position and a closed position,

In the closed position, the upper chamber and the lower chamber form at least one ice chamber for making ice,

the lower mold part includes a protrusion protruding toward the lower chamber side, ice is generated from an upper side to a lower side in the ice chamber, the protrusion has a shape protruding toward a center of the ice chamber before ice is made in the ice chamber, and has a shape protruding toward an outer side of the lower chamber after ice is made in the ice chamber.

2. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein,

the lower mold portion is formed of a flexible material or a silicon material.

3. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein,

the lower support covers 1/2 or more of the outer circumferential surface of the lower mold part to limit deformation of the lower mold part during ice making.

4. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein,

the lower mold portion includes a lower mold body formed in a hemispherical shape for forming the at least one lower chamber,

the lower support includes a chamber accommodating part formed in a hemispherical shape for accommodating the lower mold body,

the chamber accommodating portion is formed with a lower opening.

5. The ice-making machine of claim 4, wherein,

further comprising a lower heater accommodated in the heater accommodation groove of the lower support,

the heater receiving groove is adjacent to the lower opening, and the lower heater is in contact with the lower mold portion.

6. The ice-making machine of claim 4 or 5, wherein,

the lower opening corresponds to a center of an outer peripheral surface of the lower chamber.

7. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein,

the lower mold portion includes:

a lower mold body forming a wall of the lower chamber; and

a peripheral wall extending from the lower chamber and formed along a peripheral end of the lower mold body,

the lower mold body includes an end face that contacts the upper mold portion in a closed position of the lower tray assembly.

8. The ice-making machine of claim 7, wherein,

the upper mold portion includes an upper mold body forming a wall of the upper chamber,

the upper die body including an end face that contacts an end face of the lower die body in a closed position of the lower tray assembly,

In the closed position of the lower tray assembly, the upper mold body is received within the peripheral wall, and the end face of the lower mold body and the end face of the upper mold body contact each other.

9. The ice-making machine of claim 8, wherein,

when the upper mold body is received within the peripheral wall in the closed position of the lower tray assembly, the upper mold body is spaced from the peripheral wall to form a gap between the upper mold body and the peripheral wall for preventing water from escaping.

10. The ice-making machine of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein,

in the closed position of the lower tray assembly, the peripheral wall extends toward the upper tray assembly.

11. The ice-making machine of claim 7, wherein,

the lower tray assembly rotates with respect to the upper tray assembly centering on a rotation shaft.

12. The ice-making machine of claim 11, wherein,

the peripheral wall comprises a curved shaped wall extending away from the lower chamber,

the center of curvature of the curved shaped wall coincides with the axis of rotation.

13. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein,

The upper chamber and the lower chamber are formed in a hemispherical shape to form a spherical ice chamber.

14. The ice-making machine of claim 4, wherein,

in the closed position, the protrusion is located on an upper side of the lower opening before ice is generated in the ice chamber.

15. The ice-making machine of claim 4, wherein,

a concave part which is concave towards the side of the lower chamber is arranged at the lower side of the convex part,

in the closed position, the recess is located on an upper side of the lower opening before ice is generated in the ice chamber.

16. The ice-making machine of claim 15, wherein,

the area of the concave portion is reduced by the deformation of the convex portion during the ice making process.

17. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein,

the convex portion is deformed by an expansion force of water during ice making, and the convex portion is deformed during ice making to form a part of the hemispherical lower chamber.