US-12618600-B2 - Refrigerator

US12618600B2US 12618600 B2US12618600 B2US 12618600B2US-12618600-B2

Abstract

A refrigerator comprises: a first tray assembly forming a part of an ice making cell; and a second tray assembly forming the other part of the ice making cell. The first tray assembly includes a first tray, and the second tray assembly includes a second tray. The second tray includes a first portion forming at least a portion of the ice making cell, and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion. The second portion includes a first extension part extending from a first point of the first portion and a second extension part extending from a second point of the first portion, wherein the length of the second extension part in the horizontal direction is formed longer than the length of the first extension part.

Inventors

Donghoon Lee
Wookyong LEE
Chongyoung PARK
Donghoon Lee
Seungseob YEOM
Yongjun Bae
Sunggyun SON

Assignees

LG ELECTRONICS INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240129
Priority Date: 20181002

Claims (20)

1 . An ice maker comprising: a first tray having a first portion of a cell, the cell extending in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction respectively; and a second tray having a second portion of the cell, the first portion and the second portion of the cell being configured to define a space of the cell to receive a liquid to be phase-changed to form ice, wherein: the cell includes a plurality of cells, the X-axis direction being a direction that one cell of the plurality of cells and another cell of the plurality of cells are arranged in, the Z-axis direction is a direction that the first portion of the cell and the second portion of the cell are arranged in, the Y-axis direction is a direction that is orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, and an X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is a plane cutting the second tray in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, when the second tray is at an ice making position, wherein the second tray comprises a first area, a third area spaced apart from the first area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, and a second area disposed between the first area and the third area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, the first area including a point at which a first extension line passing through the cell in the Y-axis direction and the second tray meet each other, and the third area including a point at which a second extension line passing through the cell in the X-axis direction and the second tray meet each other, wherein a curvature change rate of an inner line of the first area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is different from that of an inner line of the third area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, wherein the inner line of the third area includes the point at which the second extension line and the second tray meet each other, and an inner line of the second area is configured to connect the inner line of the first area and the inner line of the third area.
2 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the curvature change rate of the inner line of the first area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is greater than that of the inner line of the third area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray.
3 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the first area of the second tray provides a surface on which the liquid leaked from the cell exists, or the ice maker further comprises: a pusher configured to separate the ice from the second tray and including at least one column, the second tray including a pressing part that is pressed by the pusher during an ice separation process, and a second tray case configured to surround at least one portion of the second tray to support the at least one portion of the second tray.
4 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein a curvature change rate of the inner line of the second area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is different from that of the inner line of the third area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray.
5 . The ice maker of claim 4 , wherein the curvature change rate of the inner line of the second area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is different from that of the inner line of the first area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray.
6 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein a curvature change rate of an outer line of the first area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is different from that of an outer line of the third area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray.
7 . The ice maker of claim 6 , wherein the curvature change rate of the outer line of the first area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is greater than that of the outer line of the third area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray.
8 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the first area has a portion in a curvature of an inner line thereof in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray different from a curvature of a portion of an inner line of the third area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, or the first area has a portion in a curvature of an inner line thereof in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray greater than a curvature of a portion of an inner line of the third area in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray.
9 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the first tray includes an auxiliary storage chamber configured to communicate with the cell, the auxiliary storage chamber storing the liquid overflowing from the cell.
10 . The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising a heater configured to supply heat to the cell, and a heater case in which the heater is installed.
11 . The ice maker of claim 10 , wherein the heater case includes a through hole, and the first extension line and the second extension lines pass through a line passing through the through hole in the Z-axis direction.
12 . A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including a storage chamber; a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and the ice maker of claim 1 .
13 . An ice maker comprising: a first tray having a first section of a cell, the cell extending in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction respectively; and a second tray having a second section of the cell, the first section and the second section of the cell being configured to define a space of the cell to receive a liquid to be phase-changed to form ice, wherein: the Z-axis direction is a direction that the first section of the cell and the second section of the cell are arranged in, the cell includes a plurality of cells, the X-axis direction being a direction that one cell of the plurality of cells and another cell of the plurality of cells are arranged in, the Y-axis direction is a direction that is orthogonal to the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction, and an X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is a plane cutting the second tray in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, when the second tray is at an ice making position, wherein: the second tray comprises a first portion forming the second section of the cell and a second portion extending from the first portion, the first portion being integrally formed with the second portion, the second portion includes a first extension part extending from the first portion in a first Y direction and a second extension part extending from the first portion in a second Y direction, each of the first and second extension parts has a curved portion in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, the first portion and the second portion of the second tray are made of a flexible or soft material, and a curvature change rate of a portion of the first extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray includes a portion different from a curvature change rate of the second extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, wherein a curvature change rate of an inner line of the first extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is different from that of an inner line of the second extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, when the second tray is at the ice making position, and wherein the inner line of the first extension part is connected to the inner line of the second extension part, or the inner line of the first extension part includes a portion that overlaps the inner line of the second extension part in the Y-axis direction.
14 . The ice maker of claim 13 , wherein the curvature change rate of the inner line of the first extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is less than that of the inner line of the second extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, when the second tray is at the ice making position.
15 . The ice maker of claim 13 , wherein a curvature change rate of an outer line of the first extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is different from that of an outer line of the second extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, when the second tray is at the ice making position.
16 . The ice maker of claim 15 , wherein the curvature change rate of the outer line of the first extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is less than that of the outer line of the second extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, when the second tray is at the ice making position.
17 . The ice maker of claim 13 , wherein the first tray includes an auxiliary storage chamber configured to communicate with the cell, the auxiliary storage chamber storing the liquid overflowing from the cell.
18 . A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including a storage chamber; a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and the ice maker of claim 13 .
19 . An ice maker comprising: a first tray having a first section of a cell, the cell extending in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction respectively; a second tray having a second section of the cell, the first section and the second section of the cell being configured to define a space of the cell to receive a liquid to be phase-changed to form ice; a second tray cover having a portion disposed at one side of the second tray; and a second tray supporter having a portion disposed at another side of the second tray to support the second tray, wherein: the Z-axis direction is a direction that the first section of the cell and the second section of the cell are arranged in, the cell includes a plurality of cells, the X-axis direction being a direction that one cell of the plurality of cells and another cell of the plurality of cells are arranged in, the Y-axis direction is a direction that is orthogonal to the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction, and an X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray is a plane cutting the second tray in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, when the second tray is at an ice making position, and wherein: the second tray comprises a first portion forming the second section of the cell and a second portion extending from the first portion, the first portion and the second portion of the second tray are made of a flexible or soft material, the second portion includes a first extension part extending from the first portion in a first Y direction and a second extension part extending from the first portion in a second Y direction, each of the first and second extension parts has a curved portion in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, a curvature change rate of a portion of the first extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray includes a portion different from a curvature change rate of a portion of the second extension part in the X-Y axis cutting plane of the second tray, and at least the portion of the portion of the first extension part faces or overlaps the portion of the second extension part in the Y-axis direction.
20 . A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including a storage chamber; a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and the ice maker of claim 19 .

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/281,779, filed Mar. 31, 2021, which is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT Application No. PCT/KR2019/012860, filed Oct. 1, 2019, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2018-0117819 (filed Oct. 2, 2018), 10-2018-0117821 (filed Oct. 2, 2018), 10-2018-0117822 (filed Oct. 2, 2018), 10-2018-0117785 (filed Oct. 2, 2018), 10-2018-0142117 (filed Nov. 16, 2018), and 10-2019-0081696 (filed Jul. 6, 2019), whose entire disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. BACKGROUND ART In general, refrigerators are home appliances for storing foods at a low temperature in a storage chamber that is covered by a door. The refrigerator may cool the inside of the storage space by using cold air to store the stored food in a refrigerated or frozen state. Generally, an ice maker for making ice is provided in the refrigerator. The ice maker makes ice by cooling water after accommodating the water supplied from a water supply source or a water tank into a tray. The ice maker may separate the made ice from the ice tray in a heating manner or twisting manner. As described above, the ice maker through which water is automatically supplied, and the ice automatically separated may be opened upward so that the mode ice is pumped up. As described above, the ice made in the ice maker may have at least one flat surface such as crescent or cubic shape. When the ice has a spherical shape, it is more convenient to use the ice, and also, it is possible to provide different feeling of use to a user. Also, even when the made ice is stored, a contact area between the ice cubes may be minimized to minimize a mat of the ice cubes. An ice maker is disclosed in Korean Registration No. 10-1850918 (hereinafter, referred to as a “prior art document 1”) that is a prior art document. The ice maker disclosed in the prior art document 1 includes an upper tray in which a plurality of upper cells, each of which has a hemispherical shape, are arranged, and which includes a pair of link guide parts extending upward from both side ends thereof, a lower tray in which a plurality of upper cells, each of which has a hemispherical shape and which is rotatably connected to the upper tray, a rotation shaft connected to rear ends of the lower tray and the upper tray to allow the lower tray to rotate with respect to the upper tray, a pair of links having one end connected to the lower tray and the other end connected to the link guide part, and an upper ejecting pin assembly connected to each of the pair of links in at state in which both ends thereof are inserted into the link guide part and elevated together with the upper ejecting pin assembly. In the prior art document 1, although the spherical ice is made by the hemispherical upper cell and the hemispherical lower cell, since the ice is made at the same time in the upper and lower cells, bubbles containing water are not completely discharged but are dispersed in the water to make opaque ice. An ice maker is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-269172 (hereinafter, referred to as a “prior art document 2”) that is a prior art document. The ice maker disclosed in the prior art document 2 includes an ice making plate and a heater for heating a lower portion of water supplied to the ice making plate. In the case of the ice maker disclosed in the prior art document 2, water on one surface and a bottom surface of an ice making block is heated by the heater in an ice making process. Thus, when solidification proceeds on the surface of the water, and also, convection occurs in the water to make transparent ice. When growth of the transparent ice proceeds to reduce a volume of the water within the ice making block, the solidification rate is gradually increased, and thus, sufficient convection suitable for the solidification rate may not occur. Thus, in the case of the prior art document 2, when about ⅔ of water is solidified, a heating amount of heater increases to suppress an increase in the solidification rate. However, the prior art document 2 discloses a feature in which when the volume of water is simply reduced, only the heating amount of heater increases and does not disclose a structure and a heater control logic for making ice having high transparency without reducing the ice making rate. DISCLOSURE Technical Problem Embodiments provide a refrigerator capable of making ice having uniform transparency by reducing transfer of heat, which is transferred to one tray adjacent to an operating heater, to an ice making cell provided by the other tray in an ice making process. Embodiments provide a refrigerator capable of easily separating ice from an ice making cell by increasing rotation force of one tray assembly. Embodiments provide a refrigerator in which transfer of heat of a heater to