CN114838548B

CN114838548B - Ice maker and refrigerator

Info

Publication number: CN114838548B
Application number: CN202210505115.0A
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: 2024-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-18
Also published as: KR20230010051A; KR20230010050A; CN114893940B; CN114838548A; KR102577507B1; KR102631981B1; KR102580514B1; CN114838547A; KR20230010049A; CN114838549A; EP4123245A1; KR20230010052A; EP3653967A1; CN114893940A; KR102577504B1; CN114838550A; EP3653967B1; CN111197895A; CN114838547B; CN111197895B

Abstract

The ice maker of the present invention includes: an upper tray assembly including a chamber having at least one upper chamber portion; a lower tray assembly comprising a lower support and a flexible lower mold section having at least one lower cavity; and a lower heater movable relative to the upper tray assembly between an open position and a closed position, the upper and lower chambers forming at least one ice chamber for making ice, the lower heater being disposed in the lower tray assembly between the lower support and the lower mold portion.

Description

Ice maker and refrigerator

The present application is a divisional application of patent application with application number CN201911127726.0, application date 2019, 11, 18, and the name of "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.

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 making device is disclosed in japanese laid-open patent publication No. 9-269172 as conventional document 2.

The ice making device of the prior document 2 includes an ice making tray and a heater that heats the bottom of water supplied to the ice making tray.

The ice making tray includes a plurality of ice making units, and the heater is in contact with one side and bottom surfaces of the ice making units.

During ice making, heat of the heater is transferred to one side and the bottom of the ice making unit. Therefore, solidification is performed on the water surface side, and convection is generated in the water, so that transparent ice can be generated.

However, in the conventional document 2, the ice making tray is surrounded by the heat insulating member in a state where the heater is in contact with the ice making tray, and therefore, it is difficult to apply the technique of the conventional document 2 using the heater to the conventional document 1 of the type in which the lower tray rotates.

Even if the heater of the prior art 2 is mounted to the lower case of the lower tray of the prior art 1, the heater may interfere with the lower ejector pin during rotation of the lower tray.

Further, in the case of the conventional document 2, since the heater is extended in a straight line shape and is in contact with the plurality of ice making units, a contact area of the heater with the ice making units is small, and thus there is a disadvantage in that a time required for transferring heat of the heater to the ice making units is long.

In the case of conventional document 2, the heater is in contact with one side surface and the bottom surface of the ice making unit, and when water in the ice making unit is substantially solidified to the extent of 2/3, the solidification speed is suppressed from increasing by increasing the heating amount of the heater.

However, according to the existing document 2, not only is transparency of the spherical ice at each height non-uniform, but also when simply reducing the volume of water, the heating amount of the heater is increased, and thus it is difficult to generate ice having uniform transparency according to the shape of the ice.

Disclosure of Invention

The present embodiment provides an ice maker capable of generating ice that is transparent and has a spherical shape.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker capable of uniformly transferring heat of a heater for generating transparent ice to a lower tray.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker that makes transparency of the generated spherical ice uniform at each height.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker that makes transparency uniform between a plurality of ice chambers.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker that prevents generated ice from being connected to each other.

The present embodiment provides an ice maker that prevents wires connected to a heater for generating transparent ice from being broken during rotation of a lower tray.

The embodiment provides a refrigerator comprising the ice maker.

An ice maker according to an aspect includes: an upper tray assembly including an upper mold portion having at least one upper cavity; a lower tray assembly comprising a lower support and a flexible lower mold section having at least one lower cavity; and a lower heater.

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 may form at least one ice chamber for making ice.

The lower heater may be disposed in the lower tray assembly between the lower support and the lower mold portion.

The lower heater may be located closer to the symmetry axis of the lower chamber than the peripheral end of the lower mold portion or the open end face of the lower chamber.

In the closed position of the lower tray assembly, an angle formed by a connection line connecting the center of the ice chamber and the lower heater and a symmetry axis of the lower chamber may be 45 degrees or less.

An upper heater for heating the upper mold portion may also be included. In the closed position of the lower tray assembly, the lower heater may be located closer to a vertical center line of the ice chamber than the upper heater.

The lower support may include a heater receiving groove to receive the lower heater.

The heater receiving groove may have a depth smaller than a diameter of the lower heater.

The lower mold portion may include a heater contact portion that projects toward the lower support or toward a lower heater, at least in a closed position of the lower tray assembly.

The heater contact portion may be formed at a position corresponding to the heater receiving groove.

A lower ejector may be further included that, in an open position of the lower tray assembly, passes through a lower opening of the lower support to remove ice from the lower chamber.

The lower heater may be located adjacent to the lower opening.

More than one of the upper and lower mold portions may be formed of a flexible material or a silicon material.

The lower mold part includes a plurality of lower chambers arranged in a row, and a contact area of a lower chamber located at a center of the plurality of lower chambers with the lower heater is smaller than a contact area of a lower chamber located at both outer peripheries of the plurality of lower chambers with the lower heater.

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

The ice maker according to another aspect may include: an upper tray having an upper chamber as a part of the ice chamber; a lower tray having a lower chamber as another part of the ice chamber; and a lower heater supplying heat to the lower tray during ice making, the ice chamber may be formed in a spherical shape. Thus, transparent spherical ice can be formed by the icemaker.

The lower heater may include a lower arc portion that is arc-shaped in a horizontal direction in a manner to surround the ice chamber such that heat of the lower heater is smoothly transferred to the lower chamber.

The upper tray may include a plurality of upper chamber walls defining a plurality of upper chambers such that the ice making machine can simultaneously generate a plurality of ice.

The lower tray may include a plurality of lower chamber walls defining a plurality of lower chambers. An independent plurality of ice chambers may be defined by a plurality of lower chambers and a plurality of upper chambers.

The lower heater may include: a plurality of lower arc portions that arc in a horizontal direction in a manner surrounding the plurality of lower chamber walls; and a straight line portion connecting the plurality of arc portions to smoothly transfer heat of the lower heater to the plurality of ice chambers.

The output of the lower heater may vary according to the mass per unit height of water within the ice chamber such that the transparency is uniform at each height of ice generated by the ice chamber.

As an example, the output of the lower heater may be adjusted in a pattern that decreases from an initial output and then increases again.

The plurality of ice chambers may be aligned in a first direction. The plurality of lower circular arc parts may include a plurality of first circular arc parts corresponding to ice chambers located at both ends among the plurality of ice chambers. One or more of the plurality of first circular arc portions may include an extension portion having a shape protruding radially outward. The ice maker of the present embodiment may further include a lower support provided with the lower heater and supporting the lower tray at an upper side of the lower heater.

The lower support may include: a plurality of chamber receptacles for supporting the plurality of lower chamber walls; and heater accommodating grooves recessed downward from the plurality of chamber accommodating parts to accommodate the lower heater, respectively.

The diameter of the lower heater may be formed to be greater than the recessed depth of the heater receiving groove so that the contact area of the lower heater with the each lower chamber wall is increased.

The lower support may include an inner wall and an outer wall for defining the heater-receiving pocket. The diameter of the lower heater may be greater than the height of the inner wall.

In this embodiment, the lower support may include: a first guide groove extending from any one of the plurality of chamber accommodating parts, and in which the lower heater is accommodated; and a second guide groove extending in a direction crossing the first guide groove, for guiding the electric wire connected to the lower heater.

The lower tray and the lower support may be rotatable relative to the upper tray. The lower support may rotate with reference to a rotation center axis, and the second guide groove may extend in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis to prevent breakage of the electric wire.

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

The ice maker may include: an upper tray having a plurality of upper chamber walls defining a plurality of upper chambers; a lower tray having a plurality of lower chamber walls defining a plurality of lower chambers, and defining a plurality of independent ice chambers by a plurality of upper chambers and a plurality of lower chambers together; and a lower heater located at a periphery of the lower tray to supply heat to the lower tray.

An upper and lower direction overlapping area of each of the ice chambers located at both ends and the lower heater may be greater than an upper and lower direction overlapping area of each of the ice chambers located between the ice chambers located at both ends and the lower heater.

The contact area of each of the plurality of lower chamber walls at both ends with the lower heater may be greater than the contact area of each of the lower chamber walls between the lower chamber walls at both ends with the lower heater.

The ice maker according to still another aspect may include: an upper tray having a plurality of upper chamber walls defining a plurality of upper chambers; a lower tray having a plurality of lower chamber walls defining a plurality of lower chambers, and defining a plurality of independent ice chambers by a plurality of upper chambers and a plurality of lower chambers together; and a lower heater located at the periphery of the lower tray, and supplying heat to the lower tray during ice making.

The lower heater may include: a plurality of lower arc portions that arc in a horizontal direction in a manner surrounding the plurality of lower chamber walls; and a straight line portion connecting the plurality of lower circular arc portions.

The plurality of ice chambers are arranged in a first direction, and the plurality of lower circular arc portions may include first circular arc portions corresponding to at least one of the ice chambers located at both ends among the plurality of ice chambers.

The first circular arc portion may include an extension portion having a shape protruding radially outward.

The extension may have a shape protruding in the first direction.

The first circular arc portion is connected with a pair of straight portions, and a distance between the pair of straight portions may be less than twice a radius of curvature of the first circular arc portion.

The distance between the pair of straight portions may be greater than the radius of curvature of the first circular arc portion.

The length of the first circular arc portion may be formed longer than the length of each of the straight portions.

The plurality of lower circular arc portions may include a second circular arc portion, the ice chamber corresponding to an ice chamber between ice chambers located at both ends among the plurality of ice chambers.

A pair of second circular arcs may be configured to surround one lower chamber wall.

The pair of second circular arc portions may be spaced apart in a second direction that is a direction intersecting the first direction. Each of the second circular arc portions may be connected with a straight line portion at both sides.

The ice maker may further include a lower support supporting the lower tray and having a heater receiving groove for mounting the lower heater.

The lower support may include a protrusion for fixing the position of the extension.

The heater receiving groove may include an extension receiving groove configured in a manner to surround the protrusion.

The lower support may include: a plurality of chamber accommodating parts for accommodating the plurality of lower chamber walls; and heater accommodating grooves recessed downward in the plurality of chamber accommodating portions to accommodate the lower heater, respectively.

The diameter of the lower heater may be formed to be greater than the recessed depth of the heater receiving groove.

A disengagement preventing protrusion for preventing disengagement of the lower heater may be provided on any one of the inner wall and the outer wall.

The escape prevention protrusion may protrude from either one of the inner wall and the outer wall toward the other. The protruding length of the escape prevention protrusion may be formed to be 1/2 or less of the distance between the inner wall and the outer wall.

The heater accommodation groove is provided with a through opening, and a part of the accommodated heater is positioned in the through opening.

The lower support may include: a first guide groove extending from any one of the plurality of chamber accommodating parts and accommodating the lower heater; and a second guide groove extending in a direction crossing the first guide groove and guiding an electric wire connected to the lower heater.

The lower support may rotate with reference to a rotation center axis, and the second guide groove may extend in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis.

The power input end and the power output end of the lower heater may be located in the first guide groove. The first connector and the second connector may be located in the second guide groove, the power input terminal and the power output terminal are connected to the first connector, and the second connector is connected with the electric wire and is connected to the first connector.

The ice maker may further include a lower ejector for pressing the plurality of lower chamber walls. The lower support may include a plurality of lower openings for passing through the lower ejector. The each lower circular arc portion may be configured to surround the each lower opening.

The ice maker according to still another aspect may include: an upper tray forming a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers; and a lower tray forming a plurality of hemispherical lower chambers and generating spherical ice from the lower chambers and the upper chambers.

The ice maker of the present embodiment may further include a heater applying heat to the lower chamber to make the generated ice transparent. The heater may be operated during ice making. Ice may be sequentially generated from the upper chamber side when the heater is operated.

As an example, the heater may be coupled to a lower supporter supporting the lower tray.

The lower support may include a heater coupling portion for coupling the heater.

The lower support may include a plurality of chamber accommodating parts for accommodating the plurality of lower chambers. The heater combining part may include a heater receiving groove recessed in the plurality of chamber receiving parts.

The diameter of the heater may be formed to be greater than the recessed depth of the heater receiving groove. Thus, the heater may be in contact with the lower tray.

The heater receiving groove may include: a plurality of lower arc portions arranged so as to surround each lower chamber; and a straight line portion connecting the plurality of lower circular arc portions.

The heater is a wire type heater, and may be bent into a shape corresponding to a plurality of lower circular arc portions of the heater accommodating groove when the heater is accommodated in the plurality of lower circular arc portions.

The heater joint may include an inner wall and an outer wall for forming the heater receiving groove. The heater is accommodated between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a separation preventing protrusion for preventing separation of the heater may be provided on any one of the inner wall and the outer wall.

The escape prevention protrusion may protrude from either one of the inner wall and the outer wall toward the other. The protruding length of the escape prevention protrusion may be formed to be 1/2 or less of the interval between the inner wall and the outer wall.

A through opening may be provided in the heater accommodation groove, and a portion of the heater accommodated may be located in the through opening.

In this embodiment, the lower tray body may include a protruding heater contact portion such that the heater contacts the heater contact portion. The bottom surface of the heater contact portion is a plane, and the bottom surface may be in contact with the heater.

The heater may be located at a position lower than an intermediate point of the height of the lower chamber in a state where the heater is in contact with the lower tray.

The lower support may include: a first guide groove extending from one of the plurality of lower chambers and accommodating the heater; and a second guide groove extending in a direction crossing the first guide groove and guiding an electric wire connected to the heater.

The power input end and the power output end of the heater may be located in the first guide groove. The power input and the power output may be connected to a first connector. A second connector to which an electric wire is connected may be connected to the first connector.

The first connector and the second connector may be located in the second guide groove.

The plurality of lower chambers may be arranged in a row, and another lower chamber of the plurality of lower chambers, which is farthest from the one lower chamber, may be further provided with a detour receiving groove extending from the heater receiving groove.

The refrigerator according to another aspect includes: a case provided with a freezing chamber; a housing provided to the freezing chamber; and an ice maker disposed within the housing, the ice maker may include: an upper tray forming a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers; a lower tray forming a plurality of hemispherical lower chambers and generating spherical ice from the plurality of lower chambers and the plurality of upper chambers; a lower support member supporting the lower tray and provided with a heater coupling portion; and a heater coupled to the heater coupling portion of the lower supporter, and may supply heat to the plurality of lower chambers.

According to the proposed invention, spherical ice can be generated from the upper tray and the lower tray. Further, during ice making, heat is supplied to the lower tray side by operating the lower heater, and therefore, ice is generated from the upper side of the upper chamber among the whole ice chambers by the heat supplied to the lower chamber side, and bubbles move to the lowermost side during ice generation. Thus, in the generated spherical ice, bubbles are eventually present only in a portion of the generated ice, thereby making the ice transparent as a whole.

Also, the lower heater includes a circular arc portion surrounding at least a portion of the periphery of the plurality of lower chambers, and thus, heat can be uniformly transferred to the plurality of lower chambers.

Also, in the ice making process, the output of the lower heater is made variable in consideration of the mass per unit height of water in the ice chamber, thereby having an advantage of making the transparency per unit height of the generated ice uniform.

Further, since the lower heater is configured such that heat of the lower heater is more transferred to the ice chambers located at both end portions of the plurality of ice chambers, transparency between ice generated in the plurality of ice chambers can be made uniform.

Further, since the ice making speeds of the plurality of ice chambers are substantially the same, the generated ice can be prevented from being connected to each other.

Further, since the electric wire is arranged such that a torsion force acts on the electric wire connected to the lower heater during rotation of the lower tray, a concern of disconnection of the electric wire can be eliminated.

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 sectional view showing a state in which the lower heater is provided to the lower support.

Fig. 31 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of fig. 3.

Fig. 32 is a diagram illustrating a state in which ice generation is completed in fig. 31.

Fig. 33 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in a water supply state.

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

Fig. 35 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in a state where ice making is completed.

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

Fig. 37 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.

The icemaker 100 may be provided to the freezing compartment 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.

Alternatively, the ice maker 100 may be provided on a door for opening and closing a refrigerating chamber or a freezing chamber.

The ice maker is described in detail below 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 tray 150 may be located at the lower side of the upper housing 120.

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 icemaker 100 may further include a temperature sensor 500 for sensing a temperature of water or ice of the ice chamber 111.

As an example, the temperature sensor 500 may indirectly sense the temperature of water or ice of the ice chamber 111 by 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 tray 250 may be referred to as a second tray. Alternatively, the lower tray 250 may be referred to as a lower mold part (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 circular arc 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.

A cold air hole 134 may be formed on the side peripheral portion 143. The cool air for making ice flows to the periphery of the plurality of ice chambers 111 after passing through the cool air holes 134. The cold air passes through the cold air holes 134 in the direction of arrow a.

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 metal 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.

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 upper chamber walls 153 forming three independent upper chambers 152a, 152b, 152c, and the three upper 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. 8. The arrow a direction of fig. 8 is the same direction as the arrow a direction of fig. 7.

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 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. And, water may be supplied 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 upper 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 rounded 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 removal 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 upper chamber walls 153 that respectively form 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 outer 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 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 a circular arc in a horizontal direction, a wire may be broken due to an increase in tension of the upper heater 148, and the upper heater 148 may be 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, the lower assembly 200 may include a lower tray 250.

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.

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 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 lower chamber walls 252d forming the independent three lower chambers 252a, 252b, 252c, and the three lower 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 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 peripheral wall 260 may surround the upper tray body 151 disposed at 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) of the lower tray body 251.

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 rounded in a direction away from the lower chamber 252 from the first extension 253 toward the upper side.

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 260c for coupling with the lower case 210.

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

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.

< 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 supporter 270 may include a supporter 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. Fig. 30 is a sectional view showing a state in which the lower heater is provided to the lower support.

Referring to fig. 27 to 30, 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.

As an example, the lower heater 296 may be located between the lower tray 250 and the lower support 270.

As an example, the lower heater 296 may be provided to the lower supporter 270. 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 at a region where the inner wall 291a is formed. 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 a circular arc surface corresponding to the hemispherical chamber wall 252 d.

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.

Therefore, it may also be described that the lower tray 250 is supported at an upper side of the lower heater 296.

The diameter of the lower heater 296 may be greater than the height of the inner wall 291a. When the diameter of the lower heater 296 is greater than the height of the inner wall 291a, the lower tray 250 presses the lower heater 296 in a state where the lower tray 250 is supported on the lower support 270, so that the contact area of the lower heater 296 with the lower tray 250 can be increased. As an example, the diameter of the lower heater 296 may be larger than the inner wall 291a by 0.5mm or more. Therefore, 0.5mm or more of the lower heater 296 may be pressed by the lower tray 250.

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 291 a. 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.

The arc portion 296a is a portion disposed along the outer periphery of the lower chamber 252, and is a portion curved in an arc shape in the horizontal direction. As an example, the lower circular arc portion 296a may surround the lower opening 274 radially outward of the lower opening 274.

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

The plurality of ice chambers are aligned in a first direction (arrow a direction), and the straight portion 296b may extend in a direction parallel to the first direction.

The lower rounded portion 296a may include first rounded portions 296a1, 296a3 corresponding to the first lower chamber 252a and the third lower chamber 252c on both sides of the outermost periphery of the plurality of lower chambers 252.

The first arc portions 296a1, 296a2 may be connected by a pair of straight portions 296 b. That is, the straight portions 296b may be connected to both ends of each of the first circular arc portions 296a1, 296a2, respectively.

The length of the first arc portions 296a1, 296a2 is formed longer than the length of each straight portion 296 b.

A pair of straight portions 296b connected to both ends of the first circular arc portions 296a1, 296a2 may be arranged substantially in parallel.

The distance R4 between the pair of straight portions 296b is less than twice (2×r3) the radius of curvature of the first arcuate portions 296a1, 296a 2.

The longer the distance R4 between the pair of straight portions 296b, the longer the length of each straight portion 296b itself, and conversely, when the length of the first circular arc portions 296a1, 296a2 is reduced, the lower heater 296 is viewed as a whole, and the length of the lower heater 296 is reduced.

As the length of the lower heater 296 decreases, the amount of heat transferred to the lower chamber 252 through the lower heater 296 decreases.

Also, when the distance R4 between the pair of straight portions 296b becomes longer, the distance between the straight portions 296b and the lower chamber 252 increases, thereby increasing the time for the heat of the straight portions 296b to reach the lower chamber 252.

However, according to the present embodiment, the distance R4 between the pair of straight portions 296b is smaller than twice the radius of curvature of the first circular arc portions 296a1, 296a2, and therefore, the interval between the pair of straight portions 296b and the lower chamber 252 becomes smaller, so that the heat of the straight portions 296b can be rapidly transferred to the lower chamber 252.

The distance R4 between the pair of straight portions 296b may be equal to or greater than the radius of curvature R3 of the first rounded portions 296a1, 296a 2.

The smaller the distance R4 between the pair of straight portions 296b, the larger the amount of bending at the boundary portion of the straight portions 296b and the first circular arc portions 296a1, 296a2, and thus not only the possibility of breakage is high, but also heat may be unnecessarily concentrated between the adjacent two lower chambers 252.

However, as in the present embodiment, when the distance R4 between the pair of straight portions 296b is formed to be equal to or greater than the radius of curvature R3 of the first circular arc portions 296a1, 296a2, the problems described above can be prevented.

The lower radiused portion 296a may further include a second radiused portion 296a3 corresponding to the second lower chamber 252 b.

As an example, the pair of second arcuate portions 296a3 may be arranged to be spaced apart in the horizontal direction. The pair of second rounded portions 296a3 may be spaced apart in a second direction (arrow B direction).

This is because each of the second arcuate portions 296a3 needs to be connected to the first arcuate portions 296a1, 296a2 by the straight portions 296b on both sides.

The second arc portion 296a3 may have a length shorter than that of the first arc portions 296a1, 296a 2.

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 a circular arc 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.

The other portion of the electric wire 298 extends from the outside of the lower support 270 to 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.

Further, referring to fig. 6, 7 and 28, a plurality of ice chambers 111 may be arranged in the arrow a direction.

And, the cold air may pass through the cold air hole 134 in the arrow a direction.

A part of the cold air passing through the cold air hole 134 flows downward through the second through opening 139b of the upper case 120 after flowing straight.

In contrast, another part of the cold air passing through the cold air hole 134 flows toward the upper tray 150 side, and another part flows downward through the first through opening 139 a.

As a result, the amount of the cold air flowing downward of the upper plate 121 through the through openings 139a and 139b is larger than the amount of the cold air flowing in the horizontal direction along the upper plate 121 among the cold air passing through the cold air holes 134.

In the case of the present embodiment, the plurality of ice chambers 111 are arranged in a row, and thus, when the amount of cool air below the horizontal plate 121 is equal to or greater than the amount of cool air above the horizontal plate 121, the heat transfer amount of the ice chambers 111 at both ends of the plurality of ice chambers 111 with cool air is greater than the heat transfer amount of the ice chambers 111 at the center with cool air. This is because the cold air flows toward the center after the cold air is first transferred to the ice chambers 111 at both end portions.

In this case, the ice generation speed of the ice chambers 111 located at both ends among the plurality of ice chambers 111 is faster.

The water expands during the phase change into ice, and when the generation speed of ice at both end portions of the plurality of ice chambers 111 is high, the expansion force of the water acts on the ice chamber 111 side of the center portion side.

At this time, water of the ice chambers at both ends moves to the ice chamber at the central side through between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250, whereby the shape of ice generated at the plurality of ice chambers 111 is not uniform, and there is a disadvantage in that the manufactured ice is connected to each other.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the lower heater 296 may be configured such that ice generation speeds in the plurality of ice chambers 111 are substantially the same.

As an example, the ice making speed in the plurality of ice chambers 111 can be made substantially the same by making the heat supplied to the lower heaters of the ice chambers located at both ends of the plurality of ice chambers 111 greater than the heat supplied to the lower heaters of the ice chambers located between the ice chambers located at both ends.

As an example, among the plurality of ice chambers 111, an area of each ice chamber located at both ends overlapping the lower heater 296 in the up-down direction may be larger than an area of each ice chamber located between the ice chambers located at both ends overlapping the lower heater 296 in the up-down direction.

Of the plurality of lower chamber walls 252d, a contact area of each lower chamber wall 252d at both ends with the lower heater 296 may be larger than a contact area of each lower chamber wall 252d between the lower chamber walls at both ends with the lower heater 296.

As an example, in the lower arc portion 296a, the first arc portions 296a1, 296a2 may include extension portions 296e, 296f having a shape protruding outward in the radial direction.

The extensions 296e, 296f may have a convex shape in a first direction (arrow a direction).

The heater accommodation groove 291 may further include an extension accommodation groove 292 to be able to accommodate the extensions 296e, 296f.

The extension portion accommodating groove 292 may be extended to protrude outward from a portion in which the first circular arc portions 296a1, 296a2 are accommodated in the heater accommodating groove 291.

The extension portion accommodation groove 292 may be configured to be outwardly extended from a portion of the heater accommodation groove 291 in which the first arc portions 296a1 and 296a2 are accommodated, and then be connected to the heater accommodation groove 291 after being bent.

When the extension portions 296e and 296f are additionally accommodated in the extension portion accommodating groove 292, a contact area between the lower chamber walls and the lower heater 296 at both ends of the lower tray 250 increases.

Accordingly, the chamber accommodating portions 272 at both ends may be additionally provided with protrusions 292a, 292b for fixing the positions of the lower heaters 296 accommodated in the extension accommodating grooves 292.

The extension receiving groove 292 may be configured to surround the protrusions 292a, 292b.

The bottom of the extension receiving groove 292 may be located at the same height as the bottom of the heater receiving groove 291 or at a higher level than the bottom of the heater receiving groove 291.

Further, 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 the electric wire penetration groove 138 formed in the upper case 120, and thus can 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. 31 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of fig. 3, and fig. 32 is a view showing a state in which ice generation is completed in fig. 31.

Fig. 31 shows a state in which the upper tray and the lower tray are in contact.

First, referring to fig. 31, the ice chamber 111 is completed by the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 contacting in the up-down direction.

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 upper 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 upper 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 upper 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.

In addition, the lower tray 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 portion 251a may be formed in a ring shape at the bottom surface of the lower tray body 251. The bottom surface of the heater contact 251a may be a plane.

The heater contact portion 251a may be formed at a position corresponding to the heater accommodation groove 291.

The lower tray main body 251 may further include a convex portion 251b having a part of a lower side protruding upward. That is, the protrusion 251b may be configured to protrude toward the inside of the ice chamber 111.

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 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 251 b.

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.

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, the diameter D1 of the convex portion 251b is formed smaller than the diameter D2 of the lower opening 274, and thus, the convex portion 251b may be deformed and positioned inside the lower opening 274.

In addition, a line passing through the center of the ice chamber 111 in the up-down direction in fig. 31 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 ice chamber 111, a line passing through a surface where the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray 150 and the top surface 251e of the lower tray 250 are in contact may be defined as a horizontal center line with respect to the height of the ice chamber 111.

In this embodiment, at least a portion of the lower heater 296 may be configured to surround the vertical center line C3 to prevent the lower heater 296 from interfering with the lower ejector 400 during the ice moving process.

The lower heater 296 may be located closer to the axis of symmetry of the lower chamber 252 (or the vertical centerline C3) than the peripheral end of the lower tray 250 or the open end face of the lower chamber 252.

In the lower circular arc portion 296a of the lower heater 296, a distance D4 between two points located at opposite sides with respect to the vertical center line C3 or a diameter of the lower circular arc portion 296a may be formed to be larger than a diameter D2 of the lower opening 274.

In the lower circular arc portion 296a of the lower heater 296, a distance D4 between two points located at opposite sides with reference to the vertical center line C3 may be formed to be smaller than a diameter D7 of the ice chamber 111.

In this embodiment, the lower heater 296 needs to be located near the lowermost side of the lower tray 250 to freeze ice at the underside of the lower chamber 252 at the slowest rate so that bubbles can accumulate at the lowermost side of the lower chamber 252.

Accordingly, the lower heater 296 may be located closer to the lower opening 274 than the horizontal center line or the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251.

Also, the lower heater 296 may be located closer to the vertical center line C3 than the top surface 251e of the lower tray body 251.

As an example, the inner wall 291a of the heater joint 290 may be formed along the outer periphery of the lower opening 274.

Accordingly, the lower heater 296 may be spaced apart from the lower opening 274 in the horizontal direction by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the inner wall 291a.

The center of the ice chamber 111 may be disposed at the same position as or near the crossing point of the horizontal center line and the vertical center line C3.

The angle formed by the connection line connecting the center of the ice chamber 111 and the lower heater 296 and the vertical center line C3 (or the symmetry axis of the lower chamber) may be 45 degrees or less. Preferably, the angle formed by the connecting line and the vertical center line C3 may be 30 degrees or less.

In the ice making position, at least a portion of the lower heater 296 may be located closer to the vertical centerline C3 than the upper heater 148.

The diameter of the lower opening 274 may be formed smaller than the radius of the ice chamber 111 to minimize the area of deformation in the lower tray 250 during ice making.

As an example, the area of the portion of the support body 271 that is in contact with the lower chamber wall 252d is larger than the area of the portion that is not in contact with the lower chamber wall 252 d.

In the case of the present embodiment, by increasing the contact area of the lower tray 250 and the support body 271, most of the lower tray 250 is in a rigid state (rib) in a state of being restricted from being deformed during ice making, so that spherical ice can be generated. In contrast, during the ice moving process, the shape is deformed by the pressing of the lower ejector 400, so that ice can be easily separated from the lower tray 250.

When the lower tray 250 is pressed by the lower ejector 400, the lower tray 250 is deformed such that the lower tray 250 is spaced apart from the lower heater 296.

When the pressing force applied to the lower tray 250 is removed, since the lower tray 250 is formed of a flexible material, it is possible to restore to the original shape, in which case the lower tray 250 is again in contact with the lower heater 296.

The lower circular arc portion 296a of the lower heater 296 may be configured to surround the lower opening 274 radially outward of the lower opening 274.

Fig. 33 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 under water supply, and fig. 34 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-making state.

Fig. 35 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-making completed state, fig. 36 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-removing initial state, and fig. 37 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3 in an ice-removing completed state.

Referring to fig. 33 to 37, 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 top surface 251e of the lower tray 250, which is in contact with the bottom surface 151e of the upper tray 150, may also 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 of the lower assembly 200, but is not limited thereto.

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. 34, 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.

In the present embodiment, the ice making position may also be referred to as a closed position (closed position).

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 heater 296 are the same, the mass per unit height of the water in the ice chamber 111 is different, and thus, the speed of generating 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 rate of ice generation per unit height of water is not constant, the transparency of ice per unit height may be different. In particular, when the ice generation speed is high, the air bubbles cannot move from the ice to the water side, so that the ice contains the air bubbles, and the transparency may be low.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the output of the lower heater 296 may be variably controlled 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 to the lower side, and reaches a maximum value at the boundary of the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250, and then decreases to 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. 36, 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. 37, ice may be separated from the lower tray 250 when the lower tray 250 is pressed by the lower ejector 400. The position of the lower assembly 200 of fig. 37 may be referred to as an ice-displacement position (ice separation position). The ice-displacement position may also be referred to as an open position (o pen 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 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. 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:

a chamber wall formed of a flexible material defining a plurality of ice chambers arranged in a first direction on an inner surface; and

an ice-making heater provided at an outer surface of the chamber wall, for supplying heat to the inside of the plurality of ice chambers during ice-making,

the ice-making heater includes a plurality of heating parts disposed along respective peripheries of the ice chambers and a plurality of connection parts extending in the first direction and connecting the plurality of heating parts,

The plurality of ice chambers include a first ice chamber disposed at an outermost contour of one side of the first direction, a third ice chamber disposed at an outermost contour of the other side of the first direction, and a second ice chamber disposed between the first ice chamber and the third ice chamber,

the plurality of heating parts includes a first heating part disposed along a periphery of the first ice chamber and a second heating part disposed along a periphery of the second ice chamber,

the area of the chamber wall of the first heating part for heating the first ice chamber is larger than the area of the chamber wall of the second heating part for heating the second ice chamber.

2. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection parts includes a pair of straight parts spaced apart from each other in parallel from both ends of the first heating part and connected to one end of the second heating part.

3. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the ice chambers are formed by contacting the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively.

4. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the plurality of heating portions each include an arc portion that is arc-shaped along a periphery of an outer surface of the chamber wall,

the plurality of connection portions include a pair of straight portions connected to both ends of the circular arc portion and spaced apart from each other in parallel.

5. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein a distance between the pair of straight portions is less than 2 times a radius of curvature of the circular arc portion.

6. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein a distance between the pair of straight portions is greater than or equal to a radius of curvature of the circular arc portion.

7. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein ice generation speeds in the first, second, and third ice chambers are substantially the same during ice making.

8. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said heating portions are in contact with a convex portion of said chamber wall, said convex portion of said chamber wall comprising a planar surface.

9. An ice maker, comprising:

a first tray including a chamber wall forming a plurality of first chambers;

a second tray forming a plurality of second chambers, the plurality of second chambers being in contact with the plurality of first chambers to form a plurality of ice chambers when the second tray is in contact with the first tray; and

an ice-making heater for heating the first tray during ice-making,

the ice-making heater includes a plurality of circular arc portions arranged along a periphery of an outer surface of the chamber wall and a plurality of straight line portions connecting the plurality of circular arc portions.

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

the plurality of ice chambers are arranged as an example, and include a first ice chamber arranged at an outermost contour of one side, a third ice chamber arranged at an outermost contour of the other side, and a second ice chamber arranged between the first ice chamber and the third ice chamber,

the plurality of circular arc portions includes a first circular arc portion disposed along a periphery of the first ice chamber and a second circular arc portion disposed along a periphery of the second ice chamber,

the area of the first arc part is larger than that of the second arc part.

11. The ice maker of claim 10, wherein the plurality of straight portions includes a pair of straight portions spaced apart from each other in parallel from both ends of the first circular arc portion and connected to one end of the second circular arc portion, respectively.

12. The ice maker of claim 11, wherein a distance between the pair of straight portions is less than 2 times a radius of curvature of the circular arc portion.

13. The ice maker of claim 11, wherein a distance between the pair of straight portions is equal to or greater than a radius of curvature of the circular arc portion.

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

The first tray moves relative to the second tray between a closed position in which the first tray and the second tray contact each other and an open position in which the first tray and the second tray are separated from each other.

15. A refrigerator, the ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

16. A refrigerator, the ice maker according to any one of claims 9 to 14.