Refrigerator and control method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12442575-B2
Application number	US-202318204541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2023
Priority date	Oct 2, 2018
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A refrigerator according the present disclosure includes a first tray configured to form a portion of an ice making cell, a second tray configured to form another portion of the ice making cell and capable of moving relative to the first tray, a driver configured to move the second tray, a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell, and a controller configured to control the driver, in which when it is determined that the water in the ice making cell is in a supercooled state based on the temperature measured by the tray temperature sensor, the controller may operate the driver to move the second tray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ice maker comprising:
a first tray configured to form a first cell;
a second tray configured to form a second cell, the first and second cells configured to form a space in which liquid is phase-changed into ice;
a driver configured to move the second tray relative to the first tray; and
a controller configured to control the driver during an ice making process and during an ice separation process,
wherein one ice making cycle comprises the ice making process and the ice separation process, and after the one ice making cycle is completed, a next ice making cycle is performed,
wherein in the one ice making cycle, after a liquid supply process is completed and while the ice making process is performing, the controller controls the driver to move the second tray from a first position to a second position that is different from the first position, and
wherein in the one ice making cycle, before the ice separation process starts and while the ice making process is performing, the controller controls the driver to return the second tray to the first position.

2. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein in the one ice making cycle, after the ice making process is completed, the controller controls the driver to move the second tray from the first position to a third position.

3. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein when it is determined that the liquid in the space is being supercooled, the controller controls the driver to move the second tray from the first position to the second position.

4. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein when it is determined that the liquid in the space is being supercooled, the controller controls the driver to move the second tray from the first position to the second position, and controls the driver to return the second tray to the first position.

5. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein, if a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor reaches a first predetermined temperature, a time required for the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor to reach a second predetermined temperature is measured; and
if the time measured to reach the second predetermined temperature is shorter than a predetermined time, the controller controls the driver to move the second tray from the first position to the second position.

6. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein, if a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor reaches a first predetermined temperature, a time required for the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor to reach a second predetermined temperature is measured; and
if the time measured to reach the second predetermined temperature is shorter than a predetermined time, the controller controls the driver to move the second tray from the first position to the second position in a first direction, and controls the driver to move the second tray in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the second tray is moved toward the first tray to the first position.

7. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein, after a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor reaches a first predetermined temperature, if a time for the temperature detected by the temperature sensor to reach a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature is shorter than a predetermined time, the controller controls the driver to move the second tray.

8. The ice maker of claim 7 , wherein the first predetermined temperature is 0 degrees Celsius or less.

9. The ice maker of claim 7 , wherein the second predetermined temperature is −3 degrees Celsius or more.

10. The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket formed as a separate component to the first tray for fixing the ice maker.

11. The ice maker of claim 10 , wherein the bracket comprises a first portion where the driver is connected.

12. The ice maker of claim 11 , wherein the bracket further comprises a second portion where the first tray is supported.

13. The ice maker of claim 12 , further comprising a first tray case formed as a separate component to the first tray and contacting the first tray to support at least a portion of the first tray.

14. The ice maker of claim 13 , wherein the first tray case is connected to the second portion.

15. The ice maker of claim 13 , wherein
a degree of deformation resistance of the first tray case is higher than that of the first tray, or
the first tray case locally surrounds the first tray.

16. The ice maker of claim 13 , wherein a degree of restoration of the first tray case is lower than that of the first tray.

17. The ice maker of claim 12 , wherein the bracket further comprises a third portion where a pusher is provided on a surface thereof.

18. The ice maker of claim 17 , wherein the pusher is provided with a coupling piece coupled to the bracket and an extension part installed on the coupling piece.

19. The ice maker of claim 18 , wherein the extension part is provided to be equal to the number of the cell provided in the second tray.

20. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet including a storage chamber;
a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and
an ice maker of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Donghoon
• Bae Yongjun
• Yeom Seungseob
• Lee Donghoon
• Lee Wookyong

Classifications

• F25C5/08

  by heating bodies in contact with the ice · CPC title

• F25C2600/04

  Control means · CPC title

• F25C1/10

  by using rotating or otherwise moving moulds (F25C1/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25C2700/04

  Level of water · CPC title

• F25C2400/10

  Refrigerator units · CPC title