US20190331384A1

US20190331384A1 - Ice Maker and Refrigerator Having Same

Info

Publication number: US20190331384A1
Application number: US16/388,673
Authority: US
Inventors: Young Jun Choi
Original assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: WiniaDaewoo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-27
Filing date: 2019-04-18
Publication date: 2019-10-31
Also published as: KR20190125123A; CN110411100A

Abstract

An ice maker and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; an ice maker in the storage room; and a controller, wherein the ice maker includes: an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the controller drives the rotation unit at least to prevent super-cooling before the water in the ice tray freezes.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same.

BACKGROUND

A refrigerator is an apparatus for storing food at a low temperature. The refrigerator can be configured to store the food in a frozen or refrigerated state according to the type of food to be stored. The inside of the refrigerator is cooled down by continuously supplied cold air, and the cold air is continuously generated by the heat exchange action of a refrigerant by way of a refrigeration cycle going through the process of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. Since the cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is evenly delivered inside the refrigerator owing to convection, the food inside the refrigerator can be stored at a desired temperature.
An ice maker may be provided in the refrigerator for the convenience of use. The ice maker may make ice by supplying cold air to water and storing a predetermined amount of ice. The ice maker may include an ice making tray for making ice, and an ice storage unit for storing the ice made by the ice making tray.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker that can effectively make ice, and a refrigerator having the same.
In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker that can reduce the time for freezing water, and a refrigerator having the same.
In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker that can prevent a super-cooling phenomenon, and a refrigerator having the same.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; an ice maker in the storage room; and a controller, wherein the ice maker includes an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the controller drives the rotation unit at least to prevent super-cooling before the water in the ice tray freezes.
The ice maker may further include a temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the water in the ice tray. The controller may drive the rotation unit when the temperature of the water (e.g., as sensed by the temperature sensor) reaches a super-cooling prevention temperature.
The super-cooling prevention temperature may be 0° C. or greater.
For example, the super-cooling prevention temperature may be 3 to 6° C.
The rotation unit may include an ice removing shaft above the ice tray and having one or more ice removing prominences; and/or a drive or a drive housing connected to the ice removing shaft, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft. The controller may drive and/or rotate the rotation unit so that the ice removing prominence(s) contact the water (e.g., during the super-cooling prevention), until the ice removing prominence(s) come out of the water (e.g., according to the rotation of the ice removing shaft). During rotation of the ice removing shaft, the temperature of the water may be greater than 0° C.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; an ice maker in the storage room; and a controller, wherein the ice maker includes an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket; and a vibration unit capable of applying a vibration to the ice tray.
The rotation unit may include an ice removing shaft above the ice tray and having one or more ice removing prominences; and/or a drive or a drive housing connected to the ice removing shaft, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft. The vibration unit may be in the drive housing.
The ice maker may further include a temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the water in the ice tray, and the controller may drive the vibration unit when the temperature of the water (e.g., as sensed by the temperature sensor) reaches a super-cooling prevention temperature.
The super-cooling prevention temperature may be 0° C. or greater.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice maker comprising an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket; and a vibration unit capable of applying a vibration to the ice tray.
The rotation unit may include an ice removing shaft above the ice tray and having one or more ice removing prominences; and/or a drive or a drive housing connected to the ice removing shaft, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft. The vibration unit may be in the drive housing.
The vibration unit may comprise a motor configured to generate the vibration.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ice maker that can effectively make ice and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
In addition, an ice maker that can reduce the time for freezing water and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
In addition, an ice maker that can prevent generation of a super-cooling phenomenon and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary refrigerator according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary ice maker suitable for the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice maker of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the ice maker of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the change of temperature of water or ice in a conventional ice maker;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the control relationships in the ice maker of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing an ice making assembly according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosed embodiments may be modified in a variety of forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments are provided to explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shapes of the elements in the drawing may be exaggerated to emphasize more clear descriptions.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention may include a main body 10 and one or more doors 20.
Hereinafter, the direction from the rear side to the front side of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a thickness direction, the direction from one side surface to another side surface of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a width direction, and the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a height direction. The door(s) 20 are at the front of the refrigerator 1, and the icemaker 30 is adjacent to the top surface of the refrigerator 1.
The main body 10 provides and/or defines the overall external shape of the refrigerator 1. At least one storage room 11 may be inside the main body 10. The storage room(s) 11 inside the main body 10 may be partitioned by a barrier 12. The storage room(s) 11 may include one or more refrigeration rooms R and one or more freezer rooms F. For example, the refrigeration room(s) R may be at or in the upper part of the main body 10, and the freezer room(s) F may be at or in the lower part of the main body 10.
At least one door 20 is on the main body 10. The door 20 opens and closes the storage room 11. For example, the door 20 is hingedly or pivotally fixed to the main body 10 to rotate and may open and close the storage room 11 as it rotates with respect to the main body 10. The number of doors 20 may correspond to the number of partitions of the storage room 11. For example, doors 20 are provided in front of the refrigeration room(s) R and the freezer room(s) F, respectively, and may individually open and close a corresponding one of the refrigeration room R and the freezer room F. For example, two doors 20 may be provided in the refrigeration room R on the left and right sides of the refrigerator 1. One or more shelves 21 may be provided on the inside surface of the door 20.
An ice maker 30 may be at or on one side of one storage room 11. For example, the ice maker 30 may be in one refrigeration room R and/or at the upper part of one of the storage rooms 11. Alternatively, the ice maker 30 may be in one door 20 or in the freezer room F.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ice maker suitable for the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice maker of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the ice maker of FIG. 2.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the ice maker may include a case 100, an ice making assembly 200, an ice bucket 300, a discharge unit 400 and a transfer unit 500.
The ice maker 30 may make and store ice.
Hereinafter, the direction from a cold air duct 110 to the discharge unit 400 is referred to as a first direction X, a direction perpendicular to the first direction X (e.g., a horizontal direction and/or in a plane) is referred to as a second direction Y, and the vertical direction perpendicular to both the first direction X and the second direction Y is referred to as a third direction Z. In addition, a side on which the discharge unit 400 is located is referred to as a front side, and side on in which the cold air duct 110 is located is referred to as a rear side.
The external shape of the ice maker 30 may be defined in part by the case 100. The case 100 may have a preset volume and a space for accommodating constitutional components of the ice maker 30 therein. The case 100 may be fixed at a point inside the storage room 11 or inside the door 20.
The ice making assembly 200 may make ice by exchanging heat of or in the water with cold air. The ice making assembly 200 may include an ice tray 2100, a guide unit 2200, a rotation unit 2300 and a cover unit 2400.
The ice tray 2100 is configured to contain water. The water in the ice tray 2100 becomes ice through heat exchange with cold air. The ice tray 2100 comprises a container having a center portion that is concave downwards (e.g., U-shaped), and a space and/or preset volume for containing water may be on or in the ice tray 2100. For example, the ice tray 2100 may comprise a multi-compartment container, each compartment being configured to hold a predetermined volume of liquid water and optionally having a convex lower surface, in which the center of each compartment has a greater depth than along the sidewalls of each compartment. The ice tray 2100 may have a preset length along the first direction X and a preset width in the second direction Y. For example, the ice tray 2100 may be rectangular as seen from the top (e.g., in a plan view).
A heater 2110 may be under the ice tray 2100. The heater 2110 may contact the bottom surface of the ice tray 2100 at least at one point. When the ice made in the ice tray 2100 is transferred to the ice bucket 300 by the rotation unit 2300, the heater 2110 may heat the bottom surface of the ice tray 2100 so that the ice may be effectively separated from the ice tray 2100.
The guide unit 2200 may be under the ice tray 2100. The guide unit 2200 forms a path for flowing cold air onto and/or around the ice tray 2100. The cold air flowing between the guide unit 2200 and the ice tray 2100 cools down the ice tray 2100 to freeze the water in the ice tray 2100. The guide unit 2200 may have a preset length in the first direction X and a preset width in the second direction Y. The guide unit 2200 may contact the ice tray 2100 at least at one point and may support the ice tray 2100. The rear end of the guide unit 2200 in the first direction X may communicate with the cold air duct 110 that supplies the cold air. The guide unit 2200 may be fixed to the inside surface of the case 100 or to the cold air duct 110.
The rotation unit 2300 moves the ice in the ice tray 2100 to the ice bucket 300. The rotation unit 2300 may include an ice removing shaft 2310 and a drive housing 2320.
As the ice removing shaft 2310 rotates, the ice in the ice tray 2100 is moved to the outside of the ice tray 2100. The ice removing shaft 2310 has a preset length and may be in a space above the ice tray 2100. The length of the ice removing shaft 2310 may be in or along the first direction X. One or more ice removing prominences 2311 may be along the ice removing shaft 2310. The ice removing prominence(s) 2311 may extend from an outer surface of the ice removing shaft 2310 by a preset length. The ice removing prominence(s) 2311 may not contact the water in the ice tray 2100 when the rotation unit 2300 is in a standby state (i.e., not in an operational state). When the ice removing shaft 2310 rotates for transfer of the ice, the ice removing prominence(s) 2311 may push the ice out of the ice tray 2100.
A drive unit (e.g., motor) inside the drive housing 2320 provides power for rotating the ice removing shaft 2310. The drive housing 2320 may be located at one side of the ice tray 2100 along or with respect to the first direction X. The drive housing 2320 may be located on the opposite side of the ice removing shaft 2310 from the cold air duct 110. One end of the ice removing shaft 2310 may be inserted into the drive housing 2320 by a preset length and connected to the driving unit (e.g., a motor) inside the drive housing 2320.
The cover unit 2400 may be on or over the ice tray 2100 in or along the third direction Z. The cover unit 2400 may cover all or part of the ice tray 2100. The cover unit 2400 may have a preset length in the first direction X and a preset width in the second direction Y. The width of the cover unit 2400 may correspond to the width of the guide unit 2200 or may be larger than the width of the guide unit 2200 by a set width. Accordingly, the ice tray 2100 may be between the cold air guide unit 2200 and the cover unit 2400. The front end of the cover unit 2400 may contact the top of the drive housing 2320. The cover unit 2400 may be fixed to the inner surface of the case 2410 at least at one point.
A water supply unit 2410 may be at the rear end of the cover unit 2400. The water supply unit 2410 supplies water from an external source to the ice tray 2100. For example, a water supply hole 120 connected to a water supply pipe 121 may be at one side of the case 100. In addition, the water supply unit 2410 may be aligned with the water supply hole 120, and the water flowing through the water supply hole 120 may be supplied to the water supply unit 2410.
The ice bucket 300 is under the ice making assembly 200 and contains ice from the ice making assembly 200. The ice bucket 300 may have a preset length along the first direction X and a preset width in the second direction Y. The ice bucket 300 may comprise a container having a center portion that is concave downwards (e.g., U-shaped), and the ice bucket 300 may include a preset volume for containing ice. As seen from the top along the third direction Z, at least part of the ice bucket 300 is positioned outside the ice tray 2100 in the width direction, and the ice supplied from the ice tray 2100 may be contained in the ice bucket 300.
The discharge unit 400 may be at an end of the ice bucket 300. The discharge unit 400 discharges the ice in the ice bucket 300 to the outside of the ice maker 30 (e.g., through the corresponding door 20; see FIG. 1). The discharge unit 400 may be coupled or connected to the front end of the ice bucket 300. The discharge unit 400 may be outside the case 100. The discharge unit 400 has a width corresponding to the case 100 in the second direction Y and a height corresponding to the case 100 in the third direction Z and may shield the case 100. The discharge unit 400 may be detachable from the case 100. Accordingly, if the user separates the discharge unit 400 from the case 100 and moves the discharge unit 400 forward (e.g., out of the corresponding storage space), the ice bucket 300 may be exposed to the outside of the case 100.
The transfer unit 500 moves the ice in the ice bucket 300 to the discharge unit 400. The transfer unit 500 includes a transfer shaft 510 and a transfer housing 520.
As the transfer shaft 510 rotates, the ice in the ice bucket 300 moves to the discharge unit 400. The transfer shaft 510 has a preset length and may be in the lower part or portion of the ice bucket 300. The transfer shaft 510 may have a length or rotational axis in or along the first direction X. For example, the transfer shaft 510 may be or comprise an auger.
The transfer housing 520 houses a motor that provides power for rotating the transfer shaft 510. The transfer housing 520 may be at one side of the ice bucket 300 in or along the first direction X. The transfer housing 520 may be on the opposite side of the ice bucket 300 from the discharge unit 400. The transfer shaft 510 is coupled or connected to the transfer housing 520 or the motor therein, and may rotate by the power provided by the motor in the transfer housing 520.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the change in the temperature of the water or ice in a conventional ice maker.
The graph showing the change in the temperature of the water in the ice maker may be divided into an ice transfer section or period S1, a water supply section or period S2, and an ice making section or period S3.
If the temperature reaches an ice removing start temperature T1 after water is supplied to the ice tray, the ice transfer section or period S1 may begin. The ice removing start temperature T1 is less than 0° C., and may be from −5° C. to −20° C. When the ice transfer section or period S1 begins, the heater begins to operate, and the ice is effectively separated from the ice tray 2100. In addition, after a preset time has elapsed (e.g., after the beginning of the heater 2110 operation), the rotation unit 2300 operates, and the ice is moved to the ice bucket.
When transfer of the ice from the ice bucket is completed, water for making ice is supplied to the ice tray in the water supply section or period S2.
When the supply of water is completed, the water in the ice tray is cooled down by cold air and ice is made in the ice making section or period S3. Then, when the preset temperature for removing ice is reached during the cooling, the ice transfer section or period S1 may begin again.
Such an operation of the conventional ice maker is performed on the assumption that ice is in the ice tray at the ice removing start temperature T1. However, in the process of operating the ice maker, there may be a super-cooling section or period S4 based on a super-cooling phenomenon, in which ice is not formed in the ice tray 2100 even after the temperature of the water in the ice tray decreases below 0° C., and the water in the ice tray 2100 remains in the liquid phase. In the super-cooling section or period S4, ice is not made in the ice tray, and the time at which the ice transfer section or period S1 begins after the ice making section or period S3 can increase.
In addition, if the ice removing start temperature T1 is reached in the super-cooling state, the rotation unit operates, and the ice removing shaft or the ice removing prominence(s) contact the water in the super-cooling state. If a force acts on water in the super-cooling state, the water may very quickly change state (i.e., solidify), and ice may be formed while the ice removing prominence(s) is in contact with the super-cooled water. If the rotation unit continues to operate in this state, it can be broken.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing control relationships of the ice maker of FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 6, a temperature sensor 140 may be in the ice maker 30. The temperature sensor 140 may sense a temperature of the water or the ice in the ice tray 2100. For example, the temperature sensor 140 may be in the ice tray 2100 and may sense directly temperature of the water or the ice in the ice tray 2100. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 140 may be or comprise a non-contact type temperature sensor capable of sensing the temperature of a material or substance using a non-contact method, based on laser irradiation, irradiating the material or substance with infrared light, or the like. In other configurations of the ice maker 30, the temperature sensor 140 may be inside the drive housing 2320, the cover unit 2400, the cold air guide unit 2200, the ice bucket 300 or the case 100, and may sense the temperature of the water or the ice in the ice tray 2100.
A controller 40 controls constitutional components of the ice maker 30. In addition, the controller 40 may control other constitutional components of the refrigerator 1. For example, the controller 40 has one physical configuration at one side of the refrigerator 1 to control the constitutional components of the ice maker 30 and other constitutional components of the refrigerator 1. Alternatively, the controller 40 may have two or more physical configurations at one or more points or locations in the refrigerator 1. In addition, part of the controller 40 may control the ice maker 30, and other part(s) of the controller 40 may control other constitutional components of the refrigerator 1. When the controller 40 has two or more physical configurations, each part of the controller is electrically connected to the other part(s), and may perform control in connection and/or cooperation with each other.
Operation of the ice maker 30 may be divided into an ice transfer section or period S1, a water supply section or period S2, and an ice making section or period S3 (see the graph shown in FIG. 5). Hereinafter, operations of the ice maker 30 will be described with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6.
The controller 40 drives the rotation unit 2300 using a signal from the temperature sensor 140. The controller 40 drives the rotation unit 2300 at least twice during one ice making cycle of the ice maker 30, which includes the ice transfer section or period S1, the water supply section or period S2, and the ice making section or period S3. The controller 40 drives the rotation unit 2300 in the ice transfer section or period Si to transfer ice, and in the ice making section or period S3 to prevent super-cooling.
The controller 40 drives the rotation unit 2300 at least once in the ice making section or period S3 to prevent super-cooling. Specifically, the ice making section or period S3 begins after the water supply section or period S2 is over, and the controller 40 determines the temperature of the water in the ice tray 2100 from a signal representing the temperature of the water from the temperature sensor 140. Then, when the controller 40 senses that the temperature of the water reaches a super-cooling prevention temperature, the controller 40 drives the rotation unit 2300 to rotate the ice removing shaft 2310. The super-cooling prevention temperature may be greater than 0° C. For example, the super-cooling prevention temperature may be 3 to 6° C. In addition, the ice removing shaft 2310 may rotate at a preset speed. For example, the ice removing shaft 2310 may rotate at a speed of 0.5 to 1.5 rpm/min. Accordingly, to prevent super-cooling of the water, the ice removing shaft 2310 may be rotated when the temperature of the water in the ice tray 2100 is greater than 0° C. Thus, super-cooling prevention may comprise contacting the ice removing prominence(s) 2311 with the water and/or passing the ice removing prominence(s) 2311 through the water (e.g., one or more times) while the temperature of the water in the ice tray 2100 is greater than 0° C. (for example, until the ice removing prominence 2311 comes out of the water according to the rotation of the ice removing shaft 2310).
When the ice removing shaft 2310 is driven and/or rotated to prevent super-cooling, disturbances occur in the water in the ice tray 2100 (e.g., as the temperature of the water approaches 0° C.). The disturbances in the water agitate the water in the liquid state and prevent the super-cooling phenomenon.
Then, when temperature of the ice reaches the ice removing start temperature T1, the controller 40 may begin the ice transfer section or period Si by operating the heater 2110.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an ice making assembly according to another embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 7, an ice making assembly 200′ may include an ice tray 2100′, a guide unit 2200′ and a rotation unit 2300′. Although the ice making assembly 200′ may include a cover unit in the same or similar way as shown in FIG. 3, it is omitted in FIG. 7 for convenience.
A vibration unit 2500 may be in the ice making assembly 200′. For example, the vibration unit 2500 may be in the drive housing 2320′ of the rotation unit 2300′. The vibration unit 2500 may be driven to prevent super-cooling, under the control of the controller 40. When the vibration unit 2500 is driven, the vibrations are applied to the ice tray 2100. Thus, the vibration unit 2500 may be in contact with the ice tray 2100 or an object (such as one or more rods, projections, or other mechanical structures) configured to transfer the vibrations from the vibration unit 2500 to the ice tray 2100. For example, the vibration unit 2500 may be or comprise a motor configured to generate the vibrations (e.g., comprising an eccentric rotor and/or a rotor with a weight or center offset from its central axis). Thus, the vibration unit 2500 may be or comprise a motor having eccentricity to effectively generate the vibrations. The motor in the vibration unit 2500 is generally separate from the motor (not shown) that rotates the ice removing shaft 2310′.
Since the process of preventing super-cooling by the controller 40 is the same as or similar to the process described above with regard to FIGS. 5-6, except that the device that is driven to prevent the super-cooling is the vibration unit 2500, rather than the rotation unit 2300′, a repeated description of preventing super-cooling of water in the ice tray 2100 by driving the vibration unit 2500 is omitted.
Since the configurations and functions of the ice tray 2100′, the guide unit 2200′ and the cover unit, and the configuration and the function of the ice removing shaft 2310′ having the ice removing prominence(s) 2311′ are the same as or similar to those of the ice making assembly 200 of FIGS. 3 and 4, a repeated description of these components and their functions is omitted.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ice maker that can effectively make ice and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
In addition, an ice maker that can reduce the time for freezing water and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
In addition, an ice maker that can prevent a super-cooling phenomenon and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
The above detailed description provides examples of the present invention. In addition, the above description explains by showing preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention may be used in various different combinations, changes and environments. That is, the present invention may be modified or changed within the scope of the spirit of the present invention disclosed in this specification, within a scope equivalent to the disclosed contents, and/or within the scope of the technique(s) or knowledge of the prior art. The above embodiments describe the best conditions for implementing the technical spirit of the present invention, and various changes in the specific application fields and usages of the present invention also can be made. Accordingly, the detailed description of the present invention as described above shows disclosed embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the appended claims should be interpreted as also including other embodiments.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body having a storage room therein;

a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room;

an ice maker in the storage room; and

a controller, wherein the ice maker includes:

an ice tray configured to contain water;

a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air;

an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and

a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein

the controller drives the rotation unit at least to prevent super-cooling before the water in the ice tray freezes.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ice maker further includes a temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the water in the ice tray.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the controller drives the rotation unit to prevent super-cooling when the temperature of the water reaches a super-cooling prevention temperature.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the super-cooling prevention temperature is greater than 0° C.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the super-cooling prevention temperature is 3 to 6° C.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rotation unit includes:

an ice removing shaft above the ice tray and having one or more ice removing prominences; and

a drive or a drive housing connected to the ice removing shaft, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the controller drives the rotation unit so that the one or more ice removing prominences contact the water, until the one or more ice removing prominences come out of the water.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the water has a temperature exceeding 0° C. when the controller drives the rotation unit.

9. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body having a storage room therein;

a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room;

an ice maker in the storage room; and

a controller, wherein the ice maker includes:

an ice tray configured to contain water;

a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air;

an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion;

a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket; and

a vibration unit capable of applying a vibration to the ice tray.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the rotation unit includes:

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, comprising the drive housing, wherein the vibration unit is in the drive housing.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the ice maker further includes a temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the water in the ice tray.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the controller drives the vibration unit when the temperature of the water reaches a super-cooling prevention temperature.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the super-cooling prevention temperature is greater than 0° C.

15. An ice maker comprising:

an ice tray configured to contain water;

a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air;

a vibration unit capable of applying a vibration to the ice tray.

16. The ice maker according to claim 15, wherein the rotation unit includes:

17. The ice maker according to claim 16, comprising the drive housing, wherein the vibration unit is located in the drive housing.

18. The ice maker according to claim 16, wherein the vibration unit comprises a motor configured to generate the vibration.