Icemaker and refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12372286-B2
Application number	US-202418636592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2024
Priority date	Oct 2, 2018
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a first tray configured to form a portion of each of a plurality of ice making cells, and a second tray configured to be rotatable with respect to the first tray and to form the other portion of each of the plurality of ice making cells. Water supply is performed at a water supply position of the second tray. When water supply is completed, the second tray is moved to an ice making position. One or more of the first tray and the second tray is provided with a communication hole for communicating the plurality of ice making cells at the ice making position of the second tray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ice maker comprising:
a first tray configured to form a first portion of each of a plurality of cells;
a first tray cover in contact with the first tray;
a first tray supporter in contact with the first tray, a portion of the first tray being disposed between the first tray cover and the first tray supporter;
a second tray configured to move with respect to the first tray and to form a second portion of each of the plurality of cells, the first portion and the second portion being configured to form a space in which a liquid is phase-changed into ice;
a second tray cover in contact with the second tray;
a second tray supporter in contact with the second tray, a portion of the second tray being disposed between the second tray cover and the second tray supporter; and
a communication passage provided between a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second cell of the plurality of cells, the plurality of cells including the first cell and the second cell.

2. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the second tray is coupled to the second tray cover and the second tray supporter.

3. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the second cell is disposed adjacent to the first cell.

4. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein:
the first tray includes a first contact surface,
the second tray includes a second contact surface, and
the communication passage is formed in one or more of the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

5. The ice maker of claim 4 , wherein the communication passage is formed in the first contact surface to be recessed in a direction away from the second tray.

6. The ice maker of claim 4 , wherein the communication passage is formed in the second contact surface to be recessed in a direction away from the first tray.

7. An ice maker comprising:
a first tray configured to form a first portion of each of a plurality of cells;
a first tray cover in contact with the first tray;
a second tray configured to move with respect to the first tray and to form a second portion of each of the plurality of cells, the first portion and the second portion being configured to form a space in which a liquid is phase-changed into ice; and
a communication passage provided between a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second cell of the plurality of cells, the plurality of cells including the first cell and the second cell.

8. The ice maker of claim 7 , wherein:
the first tray includes a first contact surface,
the second tray includes a second contact surface, and
the communication passage is formed in one or more of the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

9. The ice maker of claim 8 , wherein the communication passage is formed in the first contact surface to be recessed in a direction away from the second tray.

10. The ice maker of claim 8 , wherein the communication passage is formed in the second contact surface to be recessed in a direction away from the first tray.

11. The ice maker of claim 7 , further comprising a first tray supporter configured to be in contact with the first tray,
wherein a portion of the first tray is disposed between the first tray cover and the first tray supporter.

12. The ice maker of claim 11 , further comprising a second tray cover configured to be in contact with the second tray.

13. The ice maker of claim 7 , further comprising a second tray cover configured to be in contact with the second tray.

14. The ice maker of claim 13 , further comprising a second tray supporter configured to be in contact with the second tray, a portion of the second tray being disposed between the second tray cover and the second tray supporter.

15. An ice maker comprising:
a first tray configured to form a first portion of each of a plurality of cells;
a second tray configured to move with respect to the first tray and include a first part to form a second portion of each of the plurality of cells and a second part extending from a predetermined point of the first part, the first portion and the second portion being configured to form a space in which a liquid is phase-changed into ice, the second tray configured to move to a first position and a second position, the first position being a position where the second portion is spaced apart from the first portion, and the second position being a position where the second portion contacts the first portion;
a second tray cover through which a portion of the second tray passes toward the first tray, the second tray cover including a portion disposed in a space between the first tray and the second part of the second tray; and
a communication passage provided between a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second cell of the plurality of cells, the plurality of cells including the first cell and the second cell.

16. The ice maker of claim 15 , wherein the second tray cover is configured to be in contact with the second tray.

17. The ice maker of claim 16 , further comprising a second tray supporter configured to be in contact with the second tray, a portion of the second tray being disposed between the second tray cover and the second tray supporter.

18. The ice maker of claim 15 , wherein:
the first tray includes a first contact surface,
the second tray includes a second contact surface, and
the communication passage is formed in the second contact surface.

19. The ice maker of claim 18 , wherein the communication passage is formed in the second contact surface to be recessed in a direction away from the first tray.

20. The ice maker of claim 15 , wherein the communication passage is provided at a position aligning with centers of each of the plurality of cells.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Donghoon
• Bae Yongjun
• Lee Wookyong
• Lee Donghoon

Classifications

• F25C2700/14

  Temperature of water · CPC title

• F25C2400/14

  Water supply · CPC title

• F25C2400/10

  Refrigerator units · CPC title

• F25C1/04

  by using stationary moulds · CPC title

• F25C5/08

  by heating bodies in contact with the ice · CPC title