Ice Maker and Refrigerator Having Same

• US 20190331384A1
• Filed: 04/18/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: CHOI, Young Jun
• Application Number:
  US16/388,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20190331384A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/04 by using stationary moulds
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2305/024 Rotating rake
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2700/14 Temperature of water
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/04 without the use of saws
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/185 with freezing trays

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.

Claims

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:

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.

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;

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.

16. The ice maker according to claim 15, 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.

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.