Ice maker for refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12449174-B2
Application number	US-202318396453-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2023
Priority date	Nov 16, 2018
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

An ice maker includes an upper assembly including a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers, a lower assembly disposed below and pivotally coupled relative to the upper assembly, wherein the lower assembly includes a plurality of hemispherical lower chambers, a driver configured to pivot the lower assembly, a pair of rotating parts disposed at both sides of the lower assembly, a first pivoting arm pivotally mounted on one of the rotating parts, a second pivoting arm pivotally mounted on the other of the rotating parts and connected to the driver, a connection shaft connecting the first pivoting arm to the second pivoting arm, a first elastic member having one end connected to the first pivoting arm and the other end connected to the lower assembly, and a second elastic member having one end connected to the second pivoting arm and the other end connected to the lower assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ice maker comprising:
a first assembly comprising a first tray that defines a plurality of first chambers;
a second assembly comprising a second tray that defines a plurality of second chambers, the second assembly being configured to move between (i) a closed position in which the second tray is in contact with the first tray to make ice and (ii) an open position in which the second tray is spaced apart from the first tray to separate ice, wherein the plurality of first chambers and the plurality of second chambers are configured to define a plurality of ice chambers based on the second assembly moving to the closed position;
a driver configured to pivot the second assembly;
a first arm pivotally coupled to the second assembly; and
a first elastic member having (i) a first end connected to a first elastic member connector of the first arm and (ii) a second end connected to a first locking portion of the second assembly,
wherein the first arm comprises:
a shaft connector coupled to the second assembly, and
a power connector coupled to a rotation shaft of the driver,

wherein a center of the shaft connector, a center of the power connector, a pivoting shaft of the second assembly, and the rotation shaft of the driver are substantially aligned with one another, and
wherein a first distance between the first locking portion of the second assembly and a the rotation shaft of the driver is greater than a second distance between the first elastic member connector of the first arm and the rotation shaft of the driver.

2. The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the first arm is configured to rotate about the pivoting shaft of the second assembly based on the second assembly pivoting about the pivoting shaft.

3. The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second arm pivotally coupled to the second assembly; and
a second elastic member having (i) a first end connected to a second elastic member connector of the second arm and (ii) a second end connected to a second locking portion of the second assembly,
wherein the first arm and the first locking portion are provided at a first side of the second assembly, and the second arm and the second locking portion are provided at a second side of the second assembly, and
wherein a third distance between the second locking portion and the pivoting shaft of the second assembly is greater than a fourth distance between the second elastic member connector and the pivoting shaft.

4. The ice maker of claim 3 , further comprising a connection shaft that connects the first arm to the second arm.

5. The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ejector configured to separate ice from the first tray; and
a link that connects the second assembly with the ejector,
wherein the link is pivotally coupled to a link shaft of the second assembly, and
wherein the second distance is greater than a distance between the link shaft and the pivoting shaft.

6. The ice maker of claim 5 , wherein the ejector is configured to move linearly based on the second assembly pivoting about the pivoting shaft.

7. An ice maker comprising:
a first assembly comprising a first tray that defines a plurality of first chambers;
a second assembly comprising a second tray that defines a plurality of second chambers, the second assembly being configured to move between (i) a closed position in which the second tray is in contact with the first tray to make ice and (ii) an open position in which the second tray is spaced apart from the first tray to separate ice, wherein the plurality of first chambers and the plurality of second chambers are configured to define a plurality of ice chambers based on the second assembly moving to the closed position;
a driver configured to pivot the second assembly;
a first arm pivotally coupled to the second assembly; and
a first elastic member having (i) a first end connected to a first elastic member connector of the first arm and (ii) a second end connected to a first locking portion of the second assembly,
wherein the plurality of ice chambers are arranged in a first direction,
wherein a pivoting shaft of the second assembly extends along the first direction,
wherein the first tray and the second tray are configured to be arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position, and
wherein the first locking portion is configured to be spaced apart from the first elastic member connector in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position.

8. The ice maker of claim 7 , wherein the first arm is coupled to the pivoting shaft of the second assembly and configured to rotate about the pivoting shaft of the second assembly based on the second assembly pivoting about the pivoting shaft.

9. The ice maker of claim 8 , wherein the first elastic member connector is configured to be disposed between the first locking portion and the pivoting shaft in the third direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position.

10. The ice maker of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second arm pivotally coupled to the second assembly; and
a second elastic member having (i) a first end connected to a second elastic member connector of the second arm and (ii) a second end connected to a second locking portion of the second assembly,
wherein the first arm and the first locking portion are provided at a first side of the second assembly, and the second arm and the second locking portion are provided at a second side of the second assembly, and
wherein the second locking portion is configured to be spaced apart from the second elastic member connector in the third direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position.

11. The ice maker of claim 10 , further comprising:
a connection shaft that connects the first arm to the second arm, and
wherein the first arm is connected to the driver.

12. The ice maker of claim 7 , further comprising:
an ejector configured to separate ice from the first tray; and
a link that connects the second assembly with the ejector,
wherein the link is pivotally coupled to a link shaft of the second assembly, and
wherein the first elastic member connector is configured to be disposed between the first locking portion and the link shaft in the third direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position.

13. The ice maker of claim 12 , wherein the first arm is coupled to the pivoting shaft of the second assembly and configured to rotate about the pivoting shaft of the second assembly based on the second assembly pivoting about the pivoting shaft, and
wherein the link shaft is configured to be disposed between the first elastic member and the pivoting shaft based on the second assembly being located at the closed position.

14. The ice maker of claim 13 , wherein the link shaft is configured to be disposed between the pivoting shaft and the first locking portion in the second direction based on the second assembly being located the closed position.

15. A refrigerator comprising:
a case defines a storage space; and
an ice maker provided in the storage space,
wherein the ice maker comprises:
a first assembly comprising a first tray that defines a plurality of first chambers,
a second assembly comprising a second tray that defines a plurality of second chambers, the second assembly being configured to move between (i) a closed position in which the second tray is in contact with the first tra

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Yonghyun
• Hong Jinil
• Park Hyunji

Classifications

• F25C5/04

  without the use of saws · CPC title

• F25C1/243

  Moulds made of plastics e.g. silicone · CPC title

• F25C2600/04

  Control means · CPC title

• F25C2500/02

  Geometry problems · CPC title

• F25C5/08

  by heating bodies in contact with the ice · CPC title