US20100064716A1

US20100064716A1 - Refrigerator with ice maker

Info

Publication number: US20100064716A1
Application number: US12/513,606
Authority: US
Inventors: Young-Shin Park
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2006-11-06
Filing date: 2007-11-05
Publication date: 2010-03-18
Also published as: CN101529173A; KR101328900B1; CN101529173B; WO2008056918A1; KR20080041059A

Abstract

Disclosed is a refrigerator having an ice maker including a main body having cooling chambers therein; doors by which the cooling chambers are opened or closed; and an ice maker comprising a frame disposed in the door, a tray rotatably coupled to the frame, and an overflow preventing unit formed at at least either one of the frame and the tray. Accordingly, it is capable of preventing water in the tray from being discharged out, preventing the moving portion from being restricted, which is caused by freezing of the discharged water, and facilitatingly taking out the made ice.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerator with an ice maker, and more particularly, to a refrigerator with an ice maker which is capable of preventing water from being discharged out of a tray.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, refrigerators serve to store food items at a low temperature by a freezing or refrigerating manner according to a kind of the food items to be stored.
A refrigerator includes a main body having cooling chambers therein, doors by which front openings of the cooling chambers are opened or closed, and a typical vapor-compression refrigerant cycle for cooling the cooling chamber.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view partially showing a related refrigerator having an ice maker, and FIG. 2 is a planar sectional view showing a configuration of the ice maker in FIG. 1. As shown, the refrigerator includes a main body 10 having cooling chambers therein and doors (not shown) by which the cooling chambers are opened or closed, respectively.
A plurality of cooling chambers, i.e., a freezing chamber 12, a refrigerating chamber 14 and an ice making chamber 16, are provided in the main body 10. An evaporator 20 performing a cooling operation are disposed at a rear portion of the freezing chamber 12, and a blowing fan 22 for accelerating air flow is disposed at one side of the evaporator 20. A cool air duct 24 for providing cool air is disposed at the ice making chamber 16.
Meanwhile, an ice maker 30 for making ice is disposed in the ice making chamber 16, and a water supply apparatus 60 for supplying water to the ice maker 30 is provided in the refrigerating chamber 14.
The ice maker 30 includes a tray 31 for receiving water therein, a driving unit 41 for driving the tray, and an ice container 58 for receiving and storing the ice. A frame 51 is disposed at one side of the driving unit 41 so as to rotationally support the tray 31. A sensing lever 55 for sensing a level of the ice received in the ice container 58 is disposed at one side of the driving unit 41.
The tray 31 is provided with a plurality of cells 32 partitioned to make a plurality of ice pieces therein, and a protrusion portion 34 is formed at one end portion of the tray 31 so as to restrict rotating of the tray 31. The protrusion portion 34 restricts the rotating of the tray 31 by coming in contact with the frame 51, accordingly the tray 31 is twisted, whereby the ice inside of the tray 31 can be separated therefrom.
The water supply apparatus 60 includes a storage tank 61 for storing water therein, a water storage portion 63 for temporally receiving the water from the storage tank 61, a water supply pump 65 pumping the water received in the water storage portion 63 to the tray 31, and a water supply pipe 67 having one end connected to the water supply pump 65 and another end extended toward the tray 31.
Meanwhile, the driving unit 41 includes a case 42 having a receiving space therein, a motor 44 disposed in the case 42, and a plurality of gears 46 installed between a rotation shaft 36 of the tray 31 and a rotation shaft of the motor 44 so as to transfer a rotational force of the motor 44 to the tray 31. A printed circuit board 48 having a control program for controlling the water supply pump and the motor 44 is disposed at one side of the inside of the case 42. Besides, various sensors (not shown) are coupled to one end of the tray 31 so as to control operations such as rotation, etc. of the tray 31, etc. by sensing the rotation state of the driving shaft 38 that rotates the tray 31.
With such configuration, the water having been pumped up by the water supply pump 65 is supplied to the tray 31 and frozen into ice therein. Upon completing making of ice in the tray 31, the motor 44 is driven to rotate the tray 31. Here, the motor 44 rotates the tray 31 by an angle greater than the angle which is implemented when the protrusion portion 34 of the tray 31 comes in contact with the frame 51 so that the rotation of the tray 31 is restricted. The tray 31 is twisted by a difference between the rotated degrees of both end portions thereof, and accordingly the ice pieces in the tray 31 are separated from inner walls of each cell 32 of the tray 31 and drop down to be received in the ice container 58.
When the tray 31 is restored to its initial position, an ice making procedure that the water supply pump 65 is operated to supply water into the tray 31 and freeze the same into ice is resumed, and then, upon completing making of the ice, a separating procedure that the tray 31 is rotated to separate the ice therein and drop down the same is performed, which procedures are repeated. When the sensing lever 55 senses that the level of ice inside of the ice container 58 reaches a pre-set level, the ice making and separating procedures are stopped.
However, the related ice maker 60 of a refrigerator is fixedly disposed in the ice making chamber 16 formed in the main body 10. Accordingly, there is a problem that the ice maker 60 is installed in the door which relatively moves with respect to the main body 10, water received in the tray 31 by an external force generated by opening or closing the door or water dropped down into the tray 31 from a water supply pipe 67 may overflow the tray 31 or be scattered. That is, when the water being discharged out of the tray 31 is left on a driving unit of the tray 31 and/or the sensing lever 55, etc. and then frozen, motion of the tray 31 or the sensing lever 55 is restricted, or when the overflow drops down into the ice container 58 and is frozen into ice, the ice pieces may be adhered to each other or to the inner surface of the ice container 58.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having an ice maker which is capable of preventing water from being discharged out of a tray.
Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having an ice maker which is capable of preventing a tray from being restricted, which is caused by a freezing.
Further, it is still another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having an ice maker which is capable of preventing water in a tray from overflowing at a time of opening or closing a door as well as the tray is rotatably movable.

Technical Solution

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having cooling chambers therein; doors by which the cooling chambers are opened or closed; and an ice maker comprising a frame disposed in the door, a tray rotatably coupled to the frame, and an overflow preventing unit formed at at least either one of the frame and the tray.
Here, the tray may be implemented in a rectangular shape and have one end portion at which a driving unit for rotating the tray, and the overflow preventing unit may comprise end plates upwardly protruded from end portions of a side of the driving unit of the tray.
Each end plate may be implemented in an arc shape.
Preferably, the end plates may be formed at both end portions of the tray, respectively.
The overflow preventing unit may further comprise a guide portion disposed at an upper side of a relatively long side portion of the tray in the frame.
Preferably, the guide portion may be formed plurally facing each other.
A support portion may be further comprised for supporting the guide portion by being formed at one side of each end plate.
More preferably, the support portion may be provided with an elastic transformation portion elastically transformed so that the guide portions can be elastically and outwardly open at the time of rotating of the tray.
Each guide portion may have an inner lower end which is disposed at an inner side of the tray at the time of plane projection.
A receiving recess for receiving an upper end of the tray may be provided at the lower end of the guide portion disposed at a rear side with respect to a rotation direction of the tray.
A contact portion coming in contact with the upper end of the tray may be provided at the lower end of the guide portion disposed at a front side with respect to the rotation direction of the tray.
Preferably, the contact portion may be upwardly and inwardly inclined.
Meanwhile, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having cooling chambers therein; doors by which the cooling chambers are opened or closed; and an ice maker comprising a frame disposed in the door, a tray having a rectangular shape and rotatably coupled to the frame, and an overflow preventing unit having end plates upwardly protruded from both relatively short side portions of the tray and guide portions disposed at upper sides of the relatively long side portions of the tray.
Here, a receiving recess for receiving an upper end of the tray may be formed at a lower end of the guide portion disposed at a rear side with respect to a rotation direction of the tray.
A contact portion coming in contact with the upper end of the tray may be formed at the lower end of the guide portion disposed at a front side with respect to the rotation direction of the tray.
Preferably, the frame may be provided with a support portion for supporting the guide portion disposed at the front side with respect to the rotation direction of the tray to be outwardly open at the time of rotating of the tray.
It may be effective that the support portion is provided with an elastic transformation portion elastically transformed so that the guide portions can be elastically and outwardly open.
Each guide portion may have an inner lower end which is disposed at an inner side of the tray.
Meanwhile, in accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having cooling chambers therein; doors by which the cooling chambers are opened or closed; and an ice maker comprising a frame disposed in the door, a tray rotatably coupled to the frame, and an overflow preventing unit provided at at least one side of the tray where a rotation shaft is attached.

Effect of the Invention

As aforementioned, in accordance with the present invention, the overflow preventing unit is disposed at at least one side of the frame and the tray disposed in the door, accordingly preventing water in the tray from being discharged out at when the door is opened or closed, thereby enabling to prevent the moving portion from being restricted, which is caused by freezing of the discharged water, and to facilitate taking out of the made ice.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, the overflow preventing unit is disposed at the end portion of the side of the driving unit of the tray, thereby enabling to prevent the driving unit from being frozen.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, the overflow preventing unit is disposed at both end portions in the axial line direction of the rotation shaft of the tray, thereby enabling to prevent the tray from being restricted by freezing.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, the end plates are formed at both end portions of the tray and the guide portions are formed at the relatively long side portions of the tray, thereby enabling to prevent water in the tray from overflowing when the door is opened or closed and from being scattered to the outside of the tray at the time of water supplying. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the tray and the driving unit from being restricted, which is caused by freezing, and to prevent the made ice from adhering to each other or to the ice storage container, thereby enabling to enhance the user's convenience and not being required to install an electric heater or the like for separating or melting the ice.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, the guide portions respectively disposed at the upper sides of the relatively long side portions of the tray have inner lower ends that are disposed at the inner sides of the tray, respectively, accordingly the overflow drops down into the tray again, thereby enabling to effectively prevent the water from being discharged out.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, the guide portions disposed at the upper sides of the relatively long side portions of the tray are elastically and outwardly open when the tray is rotated, accordingly the tray may be facilitatively rotated, and the guide portions may be accurately restored to their initial positions, thereby enabling to enhance the reliability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view partially showing a related refrigerator having an ice maker;

FIG. 2 is a planar sectional view showing a configuration of the ice maker in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator having an ice maker in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ice maker in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a tray in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a frame in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating operations of an elastic transformation portion and an upper end contact portion in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a variation of the elastic transformation portion in FIG. 7.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator having the ice maker includes a main body 110 having cooling chambers therein, doors 125, 127 by which front openings of the cooling chambers are opened or closed, and an ice maker 130 disposed at an inner surface of the door 125.
A plurality of cooling chambers are formed in the main body 110, including a freezing chamber 112 and a refrigerating chamber 114 for storing food items in freezing and refrigerating manners. The doors 125, 127 are rotatably coupled to a front surface of the main body 110 so as to open or close the cooling chambers, respectively. The ice maker 130 is provided in a door by which the freezing chamber 112 is opened or closed, i.e., the freezing chamber door 125, of the doors 125, 127, so as to make ice. Here, the ice maker 130 may be disposed in a door by which the refrigerating chamber 114 is opened or closed, i.e., the refrigerating chamber door 127, depending on a model of the refrigerator. In case that the ice maker 130 is disposed in the refrigerating chamber door 127, an additional cool air passage (not shown) may be provided at the ice maker 130 so that cool air for making ice can be supplied therethrough.
As shown in FIG. 4, the ice maker 130 includes a frame 131 disposed in the freezing chamber door 125, a tray 151 rotatably coupled to the frame 131, and an overflow preventing unit 181 formed at at least one of the frame 131 and the tray 151. Here, a cover 140 is coupled to an outside of the frame 131 to receive the frame 131 therein. And, a plurality of through holes 141 are formed at the cover 140 so that cool air can be introduced into the through holes 141. An ice storage container 171 is disposed at a lower side of the frame 131 so that the made ice can be received and stored therein. And, a chute 175 are formed at the lower side of the ice storage container 171 so as to take out the ice stored in the ice storage container 171.
The frame 131 is provided with a receiving space 132 for rotatably receiving the tray 151 therein. A driving unit 134 in which a motor for rotating the tray 151, or the like is disposed therein at one side of the frame 131, and a space portion 136 in which the driving unit 136 is disposed is provided at one side of the receiving space 132. A water supply portion 138 for supplying water to the tray 151 is formed at one side of the space portion 136. A shaft receiving portion 142 for receiving a rotation shaft 161 of the tray 151 is formed at one end portion of the frame 131. A coupling portion 144 upwardly extended to come in contact with the inner surface of the freezing chamber door 125 is formed at one side of the frame 131. And, insertion holes 146 are formed at the coupling portion 144 so that a screw, etc can be inserted thereinto.
The tray 151 is implemented in a rectangular shape having a length longer than a width, and is provided with a receiving space 156 which is upwardly opened for receiving water therein. The receiving space 156 is provided with a plurality of cells 158 partitioned to form ice pieces having a certain shape. The cells 158 are formed to have the width of a lower portion narrower than that of an upper portion so that the ice pieces can be facilitatingly separated from the inner wall of each cell 158. A rotation shaft 161 by which the tray 151 can be rotated is formed at one end portion in a length direction of the tray 151. And, a protrusion 163 protruded to restrict the rotation of the tray 151 by coming in contact with the frame 131 is formed at one side of the rotation shaft 161. Here, a driving shaft by which the tray 151 is rotated may be formed at another end portion of the tray 151, or a rotation shaft of the motor by which the tray 151 is driven may be coupled thereto to be integrally rotatable.
Meanwhile, an overflow preventing unit 181 is formed at the frame 131 and the tray 151 so as to prevent water received in the tray 151 from overflowing when the freezing chamber door 125 is rotated to be opened or closed, or to prevent water from being scattered out of the tray 151 when supplying the water to the tray 151. Here, the overflow preventing unit 181 may be selectively provided at at least one of the tray 151 and/or the frame 131. That is, the overflow preventing unit 181 may be formed at both end portions (relatively short side portions) 154 in an axial line direction of the tray 151 so as to prevent moving portions of the rotation shaft 161 of the tray 151 and the driving unit 134 from being frozen. Alternately, the overflow preventing unit 181 may be formed at the frame 131 so that an upper end of the tray 151 can be blocked in front/rear and left/right directions, accordingly it may be possible to block both end portions 154 in the axial line direction of the tray 131 and relatively long side portions 152 of the tray 151. Hereafter, an example embodying the overflow preventing unit 181 provided at both end portions 154 of the tray 151 and at the frame 131 will be described.
The overflow preventing unit 181 includes end plates 183 formed at both end portions in the axial line direction of the tray 151, and guide portions 186 formed in the frame 131 to be disposed at the upper sides of the relatively long side portions 152 of the tray 151.
As shown in FIG. 5, each end plate 183 is upwardly protruded from both end portions 154 in the axial line direction of the tray 151, i.e., the upper ends of both end portions 154 in the axial line direction of the tray 151, respectively. The end plates 183 operate to prevent water received in the tray 151 from overflowing the tray 151 by an external force generated by opening or closing the freezing chamber door 125, or to prevent water from being scattered out of both end portions 154 of the tray 151 when supplying the water into the tray 151. Each end plate 183 is implemented in a plate having an arc shape thus to have a central portion thereof upwardly protruding. Accordingly, a rotation radius of the tray 151 is reduced thus to implement a compact configuration.
As shown in FIG. 6, each guide portion 186 is disposed to be upwardly extended from the upper side of the relatively long side portion 152 of the tray 151, respectively, accordingly preventing water received in the tray 151 from overflowing or being scattered out through the long side portion 152.
The guide portions 186 include a first guide 187 disposed at a side of the coupling portion 144, and a second guide 189 in parallel with a side facing the coupling portion 144. The first guide 187 is protruded toward the coupling portion 144 to corresponding to a water supply area of the water supply portion 138.
As shown in FIG. 7, the first guide 187 has an arc shaped cross section. One area of the lower portion of the first guide 187 comes in contact with the upper end of the tray 151, i.e., the upper end of the relatively long side portion 152. The lower portion of the first guide 187 is provided with a side circumference contact portion 188 a coming in contact with an outer side of the relatively long side portion 152 of the tray 151, an upper end contact portion 188 b coming in contact with the upper end of the relatively long side portion 152 of the tray 151 at the upper side of the side circumference contact portion 188 a, and a protruding portion 188 c inwardly protruded from the inner side of the tray 151. The upper end contact portion 188 b is inclined upwardly and inwardly so that the first guide 187 can be outwardly open when the tray 151 is rotated to separate ice therefrom. When water in the tray 151 is outwardly scattered or overflows, and accordingly coming in contact with the inner surface of the first guide 187. The protruding portion 188 c guides the water to be dropped into the tray 151. The side circumference contact portion 188 a elastically comes in contact with an outer circumference of the tray 151 by a support portion to be described hereafter, so that the water overflowing the tray 151 can be effectively blocked.
As shown in FIG. 7, a second guide 189 is perpendicularly extended from the upper end of the tray 151 and then curved to have the arc shaped cross section toward the upper side of the tray 151. A receiving recess 190 b is formed at the lower end of the second guide 189 so that the upper end of the relatively long side portion 152 of the tray 151 can be inserted thereinto. This is resulted from that the tray 151 is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction on the drawing, and accordingly the lower end of the second guide 189 is disposed at a rear side with respect to a rotation direction of the tray 151. If the tray 151 is configured to rotate in a counter clockwise direction on the drawing, positions of the first guide 187 and the second guide 189 may be exchanged with each other.
An inner wall 190 a of both side walls 190 a, 190 c of the receiving recess 190 b is disposed at the inner side of the tray 151, and an outer wall 190 c thereof is disposed at the outer side of the tray 151. Accordingly, when water overflowing the tray 151 due to an external force generated by opening or closing the freezing chamber door 125 or that scattered at the time of water supplying comes in contact with the inner surface of the second guide 189, it is possible to drop down the water into the tray 151 and effectively prevent the water from overflowing.
Meanwhile, support portions 191 are formed at both end portions 154 of the tray 151 in a lengthwise direction of the second guide 189 so as to support the first guide 187. Each support portion 191 is implemented in an arc shape for covering the end plates 183 of the tray 151, and is respectively provided with an elastic transformation portion 193 upwardly protruded in the arc shape at each central upper portion. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, when the tray 151 is rotated, the first guide 187 pressed by the tray 151 may be facilitated to be outwardly open and the side circumference contact portion 188 a of the first guide 187 may be elastically contacted with the side circumference of the tray 151.
Here, as shown in FIG. 9, an elastic transformation portion 195 may be implemented in a notch shape formed at the inner surface or the outer surface of the support portion 191.
Hereafter, an operation of the overflow preventing unit 181 will be described.
Water is supplied to the tray 151 through the water supply portion 138 for making ice. The water dropped from the water supply portion 138 is received in each cell 158 of the tray 151. The water dropped from the water supply portion 138 may be scattered by coming in contact with the lower portion surface of the tray 151, particularly, if the external force generated by opening or closing the freezing chamber door 125, scattering of the water may be accelerated. Here, the end plates 183 and the guide portions 186 operate to prevent the scattered water from being discharged out of the tray 151. That is, the end plates 183 blocks the water scattered toward both end portions (relatively short side portions) 154 in the lengthwise direction of the tray 151, and the guide portions 186 block the water scattered toward the relatively long side portions 152 of the tray 151. The water scattered toward the inner surface of the guide portions 186 is dropped down along the inner surface. The dropped water is guided by the protrusion portion 188 c and the inner wall 190 a, and then dropped into the tray 151.
Upon completing making of ice, the tray 151 is rotated in the clockwise direction on the drawing by a motor. The second guide 189 is pressed by the upper surface of the tray 151 and outwardly open. And, when the upper end of the relatively long side portion 152 of the tray 151 passes the protruding portion 188 c, the second guide 189 is restored by its own elastic force. When the protrusion 163 comes in contact with the frame 131 resulting from continuous rotation of the tray 151, the tray 151 still rotates in a state that the protrusion 163 is restricted, whereby the tray 151 is twisted. And accordingly, the ice made in the tray 151 is dropped down and received in the ice storage container 171. Upon completing separating of ice, the tray 151 is rotated in an opposite direction. And, when the relatively long side portion 152 of the tray 151 comes in contact with the protrusion portion 188 c, the second guide 189 is outwardly open. When the tray 151 is restored to its initial position, the second guide 189 is restored to its initial position by the elastic force of the elastic transformation portion. Here, the side circumference contact portion 188 a comes in contact with the outer circumference of the tray 151 and the upper end contact portion comes in contact with the upper end of the relatively long side portion 152 of the tray 151, thereby effectively blocking the water overflowing the relatively long side portions 152 of the tray 151.
As aforementioned, specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described. But, as the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body having cooling chambers therein;

doors by which the cooling chambers are opened or closed; and

an ice maker comprising a frame disposed in the door, a tray rotatably coupled to the frame, and an overflow preventing unit formed at at least either one of the frame and the tray.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the tray is implemented in a rectangular shape and has one end portion at which a driving unit for rotating the tray, and the overflow preventing unit comprises end plates upwardly protruded from end portions of a side of the driving unit of the tray.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the end plates are implemented in an arc shape.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the end plates are formed at both end portions of the tray, respectively.

5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the overflow preventing unit further comprises a guide portion disposed at an upper side of a relatively long side portion of the tray in the frame.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the guide portion is formed plurally facing each other.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6, further comprising a support portion for supporting the guide portion by being formed at one side of each end plate.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the support portion is provided with an elastic transformation portion elastically transformed so that the guide portions can be elastically and outwardly open at the time of rotating of the tray.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein each guide portion has an inner lower end which is disposed at an inner side of the tray upon planar projection.

10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein a receiving recess for receiving an upper end of the tray is provided at the lower end of the guide portion disposed at a rear side with respect to a rotation direction of the tray.

11. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein a contact portion coming in contact with the upper end of the tray is provided at the lower end of the guide portion disposed at a front side with respect to the rotation direction of the tray.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the contact portion is upwardly and inwardly inclined.

13. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body having cooling chambers therein;

doors by which the cooling chambers are opened or closed; and

an ice maker comprising a frame disposed in the door, a tray having a rectangular shape and rotatably coupled to the frame, and an overflow preventing unit having end plates upwardly protruded from both relatively short side portions of the tray and guide portions disposed at upper sides of the relatively long side portions of the tray.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein a receiving recess for receiving an upper end of the tray is formed at a lower end of the guide portion disposed at a rear side with respect to a rotation direction of the tray.

15. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein a contact portion coming in contact with the upper end of the tray is formed at the lower end of the guide portion disposed at a front side with respect to the rotation direction of the tray.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the contact portion is upwardly and inwardly inclined.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the frame is provided with a support portion for supporting the guide portion disposed at the front side with respect to the rotation direction of the tray to be outwardly open at the time of rotating of the tray.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the support portion is provided with an elastic transformation portion elastically transformed so that the guide portions can be elastically and outwardly open.

19. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein each guide portion has an inner lower end which is disposed at an inner side of the tray.

20. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body having cooling chambers therein;

doors by which the cooling chambers are opened or closed; and

an ice maker comprising a frame disposed in the door, a tray rotatably coupled to the frame, and an overflow preventing unit provided at at least one side of the tray where a rotation shaft is attached.

21. The refrigerator of claim 20, wherein the overflow preventing unit is upwardly protruded from an upper end of the tray.