ES3008514T3 - Ice maker and refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice maker is provided for a household appliance, in particular for a refrigerator or freezer, including: an upper assembly (110) with an upper tray (150) with at least a portion of the upper chamber (152); a lower assembly (200) with a lower support (270); and a lower tray (250) with at least a portion of the lower chamber (252). The lower assembly (200) is movable relative to the upper assembly (110) between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the lower chamber portion (252) and the upper chamber portion (152) form at least one ice chamber (111) for ice formation. The lower tray (250) has a convex portion (251b) protruding toward the lower chamber portion (252) and is configured to deform outwardly thereof to compensate for the increase in volume during ice formation. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, no legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Ice maker and refrigerator

Background

This description relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator.

In general, refrigerators are appliances for storing food at low temperatures in a storage space that is covered by a door.

The refrigerator can cool the interior of the storage space using cold air to keep the stored food in a refrigerated or frozen state.

An ice maker is usually provided to make ice in the refrigerator.

The ice maker is constructed so that water supplied from a water supply source or water tank is housed in an ice making tray.

Also, the ice maker is built to transfer the ice made from the ice tray in a heating manner or in a spinning manner.

As described above, the ice maker through which water is automatically supplied, and the ice transferred automatically can be opened upwards so that the ice is pumped upwards.

As described above, the ice in the ice maker may have at least one flat surface, such as a crescent or cubic shape.

When ice is spherical, freezing is more convenient, and it can also provide a different user experience. Furthermore, even when storing the finished ice, the contact area between the ice cubes can be minimized to minimize ice matting.

Korean Patent No. 10-1850918 as prior art document 1 describes an ice maker.

The ice maker of the prior art document 1 includes an upper tray in which a plurality of hemispherical shaped upper cells are arranged and a pair of link guides are provided extending upwardly from both sides, and a lower tray in which a plurality of hemispherical shaped lower cells are arranged and which is pivotally connected to the upper tray, and an ice separating heater for heating the upper tray.

In addition, the ice maker includes a bottom ejector pin to separate the ice attached to the bottom tray in the ice separation process.

The lower tray includes a tray body in which multiple lower cells are formed, a lower frame having a tray body seat on which the tray body sits, and an upper frame having a bottom surface to which the tray body and the lower frame are fixed.

The tray body has an extension that extends radially from an upper surface edge of the lower cell. The seat of the tray body supports the extension.

In the ice maker of prior art document 1, the tray body seat supports only the extension of the tray body. Therefore, the lower cell is not covered by the lower frame. Therefore, the lower cell is deformable by external forces during the ice-making process.

In the ice making process, water expands, so an expansion force of the water acts on the lower tray.

However, in the case of prior art document 1, since the lower cell is not covered by the lower frame, there is a risk of the lower cell being deformed by the expansion force of the water acting on the lower cell. When the lower cell deforms, the ice forms in a shape corresponding to a shape of the deformed lower cell, such that the ice does not have a perfect spherical shape.

Furthermore, in prior art document 1, it is possible to produce ice in a sphere-like shape. However, since the ice freezes in each of the upper and lower cells, bubbles are present in the completed ice, resulting in an opaque ice layer.

US Patent No. 2182454 as prior art document 2 describes an ice cube tray.

The ice cube tray of prior art document 2 may include a frame and a soft rubber tray supported by the frame. The tray may include multiple pockets.

Each of the multiple pockets has a cavity in a recessed downward shape defined in a lower portion thereof.

In the ice-making process, water is placed in the multiple pockets and cavities, where the aqueous phase changes to ice. Therefore, according to prior art document 2, after ice-making is complete, the ice includes a protrusion that has a downward convex shape. After ice-making is complete, the user presses the cavity to separate the ice from the tray, and thus the cavity deforms upward, consequently separating the ice from the tray.

Thus, in Prior Art Document 2, the convex portion protruding downward from the overall shape of the ice may be formed. The combination of Prior Art Document 1 and Prior Art Document 2 may not form the ice completely in the shape of a sphere.

Document DE 29820 139 U1 describes a freezer mold configured for forming ice cups. The freezer mold comprises a matrix mold and a male mold, the matrix mold comprising at least one opening, which can be filled with water. The opening is in the form of a short-tailed cone with a straight bottom. In contrast, the male mold comprises at least one projection that can be inserted into the opening. During the formation of the ice cups, the opening is filled with water and then the projection is inserted into the opening, thereby forming the ice-forming chamber corresponding to the shape of the ice cups.

EP2549207A2 describes an ice maker according to the preamble of appended claim 1 including an upper tray comprising multiple first recessed portions, each having a hemispherical shape, and a lower tray including multiple second recessed portions, each having a hemispherical shape. The ice maker also includes a drive unit that moves at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray to change between a fixed orientation in which the upper tray is fixed to the lower tray to define multiple spherical shells and a spaced-apart orientation in which the upper tray is spaced apart from the lower tray. The ice maker further includes a water supply portion configured to supply water to the shells and an ejection unit disposed outside of the shells and configured to facilitate separation of the ice pieces made in the shells.

Document US 2014/0182325 A1 shows an ice maker including an upper tray comprising multiple upper cells each having a hemispherical shape and an ice making tube disposed on outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to cool each of the upper cells. The ice maker also includes a lower tray including multiple lower cells each having a hemispherical shape. The lower tray is rotatably connected to the upper tray. The ice maker further includes a rotational shaft connected to a rear end of the lower tray and to a rear end of the upper tray, and configured to rotate the lower tray relative to the upper tray.

Compendium

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker in which the ice completed from ice making can maintain a spherical shape.

According to the present invention, an ice maker can be provided in which a convex portion of a lower tray for producing sphere-shaped ice can be easily deformed in the ice making process.

According to the present invention, an ice maker can be provided in which a convex portion deformed in an ice making process can be further deformed in an ice separating process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker in which ice can be produced in the form of a transparent sphere.

According to the present invention, an ice maker can be provided in which heat from a lower heater can be smoothly transferred to the lower tray.

According to the present invention, an ice maker can be provided in which heat from a lower heater can be smoothly transferred to the lower tray while the lower heater for producing clear ice does not interfere with a lower ejector for ice separation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator or freezer having an ice maker according to any embodiment of the present invention.

One or more of these objects are solved by the features of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claim.

An ice maker according to one aspect may include an upper tray for forming an upper chamber as a portion of an ice chamber, a lower tray including a chamber wall for defining a lower chamber as a remaining portion of the ice chamber, and a lower support for supporting the chamber wall of the lower tray, and having a bottom opening defined therein.

Each of the upper and lower chambers may be formed in a hemispherical shape. The ice produced in the ice chamber composed of the upper and lower chambers may have a spherical shape.

Considering the deformation of a portion of the chamber wall of the lower tray toward the lower opening, the chamber wall includes a convex portion. The convex portion is convex in a direction away from the lower opening.

The chamber wall may include a contact region in contact with the lower support, a non-contact region that is not in contact therewith, and at least a portion of the convex portion is provided in the non-contact region.

A center of the convex portion may coincide with a center of the lower opening.

The upper tray may include an upper opening, and a vertical center line passing through a center of the ice chamber may pass through the upper opening, the convex portion, and the lower opening.

Before ice production is complete, a portion of the convex portion may be located outside the lower opening. After ice production is complete, the portion of the convex portion that was located outside the lower opening may be deformed toward the lower opening and thus located within the lower opening, such that the ice may be spherical in shape overall.

In the present embodiment, since a convex cavity toward the upper tray is formed below the convex portion, the convex portion can be easily deformed by an expansion force of water, and can be easily deformed again by a pressure force in the process of separating ice.

In the present embodiment, the ice maker may further include a lower ejector that passes through the lower opening and then presses the convex portion for ice separation, and a lower heater for transferring heat to the lower tray in the ice making process.

The lower heater may be located radially outward from the lower opening so that interference between the lower heater and the lower ejector can be avoided.

In one example, a portion of the lower heater may be constructed to surround the convex portion in the horizontal direction.

The bottom heater can be supported by the bottom bracket.

An outer face of the chamber wall may include a round surface, and a heater contact portion for contacting the lower heater may protrude from the round surface.

A lower surface of the heater contact portion may be flat so as to increase its contact area with the lower heater. The heater contact portion may be constructed to surround the convex portion.

A refrigerator according to another aspect may include a cabinet having a freezing compartment defined therein; and an ice maker that generates ice using cold air to cool the freezing compartment. The ice maker may be an ice maker according to any of the embodiments described herein.

The ice maker may include an upper tray defining an upper chamber; a lower tray defining a lower chamber that forms an ice chamber together with the upper chamber; and a lower support supporting the lower tray and having a lower opening defined therein. The lower tray includes a convex portion that is convex toward the upper tray and is disposed in a position corresponding to the lower opening.

An ice maker according to another aspect may include an upper tray for forming an upper chamber as a portion of an ice chamber; a lower tray including a chamber wall forming a lower chamber as a remaining portion of the ice chamber; and a lower support for supporting the chamber wall of the lower tray, and having a bottom opening defined therein, wherein the lower tray is made of a ductile, non-metallic material, wherein the chamber wall includes a convex portion that is convex in a direction away from the bottom opening.

A convex cavity facing the upper tray may be formed beneath the convex portion. Before ice production is complete, a portion of the convex portion is positioned outside the lower opening. After ice production is complete, the portion of the convex portion located outside the lower opening may be deformed toward the lower opening and positioned within the lower opening.

Before completion of ice making, a linear dimension of the convex portion may be smaller than a linear dimension of the lower opening.

Before ice making, the highest level of the convex portion may be located higher than the lowest level of the ice chamber, the highest level of the cavity may be located lower than the lowest level of the ice chamber.

Before ice making is complete, the highest level of the cavity may be positioned higher than the lowest level of the lower tray.

The ice maker may also include a lower heater to provide heat to the lower tray during the ice-making process. The highest level of the ice cavity may be higher than the lower heater before ice-making is complete.

A vertical center line passing through the center of the ice chamber may extend through the lower opening. Before ice production is complete, the lowest level of the lower tray may separate horizontally from the vertical center line.

A distance between the lowest level of the lower tray and the vertical center line after completion of ice making may be smaller than a distance between the lowest level of the lower tray and the vertical center line before completion of ice making.

The ice maker may include a lower ejector that passes through the lower opening and then presses the convex portion to separate the ice. The lower heater may provide heat to the lower tray during the ice-making process.

The lower heater may be located radially outward from the lower opening.

At least a portion of the lower heater may be constructed to surround the convex portion in a horizontal direction.

Before ice production is complete, the lowest level of the ice chamber may be set higher than the highest level of the lower heater. After ice production is complete, the lowest level of the ice chamber may be set lower than the highest level of the lower heater.

Before ice production is complete, at least a portion of the lower heater may be positioned higher than the lowest level of the lower tray. After ice production is complete, the lowest level of the lower tray may be positioned lower than the lower heater.

The bottom heater can be supported by the bottom bracket.

An outer surface of the chamber wall may include a round surface. A heater contact portion for contacting the lower heater may protrude from the round surface. A bottom surface of the heater contact portion may be flat.

The contact portion of the heater may be constructed to surround the convex portion.

The lower support may include a heater-receiving slot for receiving the lower heater. The heater-receiving slot may be formed by an inner wall and an outer wall.

At least a portion of the contact portion of the heater may be located between an upper surface of the inner wall and an upper surface of the outer wall while the contact portion of the heater is in contact with the lower heater.

Each of the upper surface of the inner wall and the upper surface of the outer wall may be rounded and may be in contact with the chamber wall.

An ice maker according to another aspect may include an upper tray having an upper tray body for forming multiple upper chambers, each chamber having a hemispherical shape; a lower tray having a lower tray body for forming multiple lower chambers, each chamber having a hemispherical shape, wherein the lower tray has a lower tray body having an upper surface that contacts a lower surface of the upper tray body.

In the present embodiment, each of the upper tray and the lower tray may be formed of a silicone material.

In the present embodiment, the lower tray body includes a convex portion that is rounded and convex toward the upper chamber. During the ice-making process, the convex portion is deformed so that no ice protrusion is formed beyond the spherical ice, thereby creating spherical ice. In order to facilitate the deformation of the convex portion, an upwardly convex cavity may be formed beneath the convex portion.

The lower tray may include a first extension extending in a horizontal direction from the lower tray body, and a circumferential wall extending from the first extension upwardly, and surrounding the upper tray body.

An inner face of the chamber wall and an outer face of the lower tray body may be spaced apart from each other.

The upper tray body may include a chamber wall that forms the multiple upper chambers. The chamber wall may include a vertical wall and a curved wall. The circumferential wall may include a first wall surrounding the vertical wall and a second wall surrounding the curved wall.

The upper tray body has an upper opening for inlet of cold air, and an inlet wall extending along a circumference of the upper opening, and a first connecting rib connecting the inlet wall and the upper tray body to each other.

The upper tray body may include several upper openings and several inlet walls corresponding to several upper chambers. Two adjacent inlet walls among multiple inlet walls may be connected to each other via a second connecting rib.

An ice maker according to another aspect may include an upper tray for forming an upper chamber as a portion of an ice chamber and a lower tray for forming a lower chamber as a remaining portion of the ice chamber.

At least a portion of the lower tray may be spaced from the upper tray in a water supply position, and at least a portion of the lower tray may be in contact with the upper tray in an ice making position.

The hardness of the upper tray can be greater than the hardness of the lower tray, so as to prevent water from leaking at a portion where the lower tray and the upper tray are in contact with each other during an ice-making process.

The top tray and bottom tray may be made of a flexible, non-metallic material. In one example, the top tray and bottom tray may be made of a silicone material.

The ice maker may also include a lower ejector to press the lower tray in an ice separation process.

When the upper tray and the lower tray are made of the flexible material, and the hardness of the upper tray is greater than the hardness of the lower tray, during the ice separation process, the deformation of the upper tray may be limited, and the lower tray may be deformed in a process of being pressed by the lower ejector. The ice fixed to the lower tray may be separated from the lower tray by the deformation of the lower tray. The upper tray may include an upper tray body defining the upper chamber, and the lower tray may include a lower tray body defining the lower chamber and a circumferential wall extending from the lower tray body and surrounding the upper tray body in the ice-making position. In the ice-making position, a space may be defined between an outer face of the upper tray body and an inner face of the circumferential wall to prevent water from overflowing from the ice chamber in a process in which the lower tray is moved to the ice-making position after water is supplied. A thickness of the space may be smaller than a thickness of the circumferential wall.

The upper tray body may include an upper opening. In the ice-making position, an upper end of the circumferential wall may be positioned higher than the upper opening.

The ice maker may further include an upper ejector that passes through the upper opening to press the ice in the ice separation process.

The ice maker may further include a lower support for supporting the lower tray and a lower box having a circumferential wall surrounding the circumferential wall of the lower tray, thereby limiting deformation of the circumferential wall of the lower tray in an outward direction.

The circumferential wall of the lower tray may include a mating projection formed thereon, and the circumferential wall of the lower box may include a mating groove defined therein to which the mating projection engages, thereby limiting deformation of the circumferential wall of the lower tray in an inward direction.

The ice maker may further include a lower support for supporting a portion of the lower tray and a lower box for supporting the remaining portion of the lower tray.

The lower tray may further include a horizontal extension portion extending from the circumferential wall.

The lower support may be in contact with a lower surface of the horizontal extension portion. The lower housing may be in contact with an upper surface of the horizontal extension portion.

A protrusion may be provided on at least one of the upper surface or the lower surface of the horizontal extension portion. A slot for receiving the protrusion may be defined in at least one of the lower support or the lower housing.

The ice maker may further include an upper support for supporting the upper tray, and an upper box for pressing a portion of the upper tray toward the upper support.

The upper tray may include an upper tray body defining the upper chamber, and a horizontal extension portion extending in a horizontal direction from the upper tray body and supported by the upper support.

The upper support may include a support plate having an opening through which a portion of the upper tray passes and in contact with the lower surface of the horizontal extension portion.

The upper box may include a top plate having an opening defined therein through which a portion of the upper tray passes, and in contact with the upper surface of the horizontal extension portion.

A protrusion may be provided on at least one of the upper surface or the lower surface of the horizontal extension portion. A slot for receiving the protrusion may be defined in at least one of the lower support or the lower housing, thereby preventing deformation of the horizontal extension portion.

A refrigerator according to another aspect may include a cabinet having a freezing compartment defined therein; and an ice maker that uses cold air to cool the freezing compartment to make ice. The ice maker may be an ice maker according to any of the embodiments described herein.

The ice maker may include an upper tray defining an upper chamber; and a lower tray defining a lower chamber defining an ice chamber along with the upper chamber, wherein the lower tray is rotatable relative to the upper tray.

The upper and lower trays are made of a flexible, non-metallic material. The hardness of the upper tray is greater than that of the lower tray.

An ice maker according to another aspect may include an upper tray defining an upper chamber, which is a portion of an ice chamber, and made of a flexible material, which is a non-metallic material; and a lower tray defining a lower chamber, which is the remaining portion of the ice chamber, and made of a flexible material, which is a non-metallic material.

At least a portion of the lower tray is spaced from the upper tray in a water supply position. In addition, at least a portion of the lower tray is in contact with the upper tray in an ice-making position. The hardness of the upper tray is greater than the hardness of the lower tray.

The top tray and the bottom tray can be made of the same material.

For example, the top tray and bottom tray may be made of a silicone material.

The upper tray may include an upper tray body defining the upper chamber. Furthermore, the lower tray may include a lower tray body defining the lower chamber, and a circumferential wall extending from the lower tray body and surrounding the upper tray body in an ice-making position.

In the ice-making position, a gap can be defined between an outer face of the upper tray body and an inner face of the circumferential wall. The gap thickness can be smaller than the circumferential wall thickness.

The upper tray body may include an upper opening defined therein. In the ice-making position, an upper end of the circumferential wall may be positioned higher than the upper opening.

The lower tray may further include a first extension portion extending horizontally from the lower tray body, the circumferential wall may extend upwardly from the first extension portion, and a bottom surface of the upper tray body may be in contact with a bottom surface of the lower tray body.

The ice maker may further include a lower support for supporting a portion of the lower tray and a lower case for supporting the remaining portion of the lower tray. The lower tray may further include a second extension portion extending from the circumferential wall.

A protrusion may be provided on at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the second extension portion, and a groove for receiving the protrusion therein may be defined in at least one of the lower support or the lower case.

The upper tray body may include a vertical wall and a curved wall that is rounded in a direction away from the upper chamber. The circumferential wall may include a first wall surrounding the vertical wall and a second wall surrounding the curved wall.

The first wall is a vertical wall, and the second wall is a curved wall.

The lower tray can rotate relative to the upper tray about a center of rotation. Furthermore, the second wall can be located closer to a center of rotation than the first wall.

A center of curvature of the second wall may coincide with the center of rotation.

The ice maker may further include a lower support for supporting the lower tray and a lower box having the circumferential wall surrounding the circumferential wall of the lower tray.

The circumferential wall of the lower tray may include a mating projection formed thereon, and the circumferential wall of the lower box may include a mating groove defined therein to which the mating projection engages.

The ice maker may further include an upper support for supporting the upper tray, and an upper box for pressing a portion of the upper tray toward the upper support.

The upper tray may include an upper tray body defining the upper chamber, and a horizontal extension portion extending in a horizontal direction from the upper tray body and supported by the upper support.

The upper support may include a support plate having an opening through which a portion of the upper tray passes and in contact with the lower surface of the horizontal extension portion.

The upper box may include a top plate having an opening defined therein through which a portion of the upper tray passes, and in contact with the upper surface of the horizontal extension portion.

A protrusion may be provided on at least one of the upper surface or the lower surface of the horizontal extension portion, and a groove for receiving the protrusion therein may be defined in at least one of the lower support or the lower box.

According to the proposed invention, the lower tray includes a convex portion that is convex toward the upper chamber. The convex portion is formed taking into account the expansion force of water during the ice-forming process. Therefore, when the convex portion deforms during the ice-making process, the convex portion forms a hemispherical portion of the lower chamber. Therefore, no portion of ice protrudes beyond the ice produced, so that the ice produced can have a spherical shape.

Furthermore, when heat from the lower heater is supplied to the lower tray in the ice making process, water in an upper portion of the ice chamber may freeze first so that the spherical ice finally produced is clear.

In addition, the convex portion of the lower tray can be pressed by the lower ejector to separate the ice. Since a convex cavity facing the upper tray is defined below the convex portion, the convex portion can easily become deformed during the ice-making process.

In addition, during the ice separation process, the deformed block portion can be pressurized by the lower ejector and further deformed, thereby improving the separation performance between the ice and the lower tray.

Furthermore, since the lower heater can be positioned radially outward from the block portion, the lower ejector and the lower heater do not interfere with each other. Furthermore, since the lower heater is positioned around the convex portion, heat from the lower heater can be transferred to the lower tray.

Furthermore, the upper tray and lower tray, which may be made of flexible material, may be in contact with each other in the ice-making position. Since the hardness of the upper tray may be greater than that of the lower tray, the adhesion of the portion where the upper and lower trays are in contact with each other may be improved.

By improving the adhesion of the portion where the upper tray and the lower tray are in contact with each other, water can be prevented from flowing between the upper tray and the lower tray and leaking during the ice making process.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the deformation and movement of the upper tray in the ice separating process can be limited, and the lower tray can be easily deformed in the process of being pressed by the lower ejector, thereby separating the ice fixed to the lower tray from the lower tray.

Furthermore, the lower tray may include the circumferential wall surrounding the upper tray in the ice-making position, and there may be a space between the circumferential wall and the outer face of the upper tray. Therefore, even when excess water is supplied during the water supply process, the water may be located in the space, thereby preventing the water in the ice chamber from overflowing to the outside of the ice maker.

Furthermore, since the lower support for supporting the lower tray may include the circumferential wall surrounding the circumferential wall of the lower tray, the circumferential wall of the lower tray can be prevented from being deformed outward.

Furthermore, the coupling protrusion is formed on the circumferential wall of the lower tray, and the coupling groove for receiving the coupling protrusion therein can be defined on the circumferential wall of the lower support. Therefore, the circumferential wall can be prevented from deforming inward.

Furthermore, the upper tray may include the horizontal extension portion. Furthermore, the upper box may be in contact with the upper surface of the horizontal extension portion, and the upper support may be in contact with the lower surface of the horizontal extension portion. Thus, the upper tray may be prevented from moving.

Furthermore, the protrusion can be formed on the horizontal extension portion, and the protrusion can be coupled to at least one of the upper support or the upper case. Thus, the horizontal extension portion can be prevented from stretching and plastic deformation.

Furthermore, the lower tray may include the extension portion extending in the horizontal direction, the lower support may be in contact with the bottom surface of the extension portion, and the lower case is in contact with the bottom surface of the extension. Therefore, the extension portion can be prevented from moving while the lower tray body deforms during the ice separation process.

Furthermore, the protrusion can be formed on the extension portion, and the protrusion can be coupled to at least one of the lower support or the lower case. Thus, the extension portion can be prevented from stretching and plastic deformation.

In one aspect, an ice maker for a household appliance, particularly for a refrigerator or freezer, for making clear ice includes an upper assembly including an upper tray having at least an upper chamber portion, and a lower assembly including a lower support portion and a lower tray having at least a lower chamber portion. The lower assembly is movable relative to the upper assembly between an open position and a closed position, e.g., the lower assembly may be rotatable about an axis of rotation. In the closed position, the lower chamber portion and the upper chamber portion form at least one ice chamber in which ice is to be formed.

Preferably, the ice chamber has a spherical shape to form spherical ice balls. In this case, the upper chamber portion may have a hemispherical shape and the lower chamber portion may have a hemispherical shape (except for the convex portion) to form spherical ice in the ice chamber. However, the ice chamber may have any shape that can be formed by an upper chamber portion and a lower chamber portion, e.g., a spherical shape, a pyramidal shape, a star shape, and a cylindrical shape.

The lower tray and/or the lower tray body and/or the upper tray and/or the upper tray body may be made of a flexible or deformable material, such as silicone. The lower tray and the upper tray may be made of the same material. The upper tray has less flexibility and/or greater hardness or rigidity than the lower tray. The lower tray may be removably attached to the lower assembly so that the lower tray can be removed from the lower assembly for cleaning. Similarly, the upper tray may be removably attached to an upper assembly so that the upper tray can be removed from the upper assembly for cleaning.

Preferably, the lower support portion covers a portion of, e.g., more than half of, an exterior surface of the lower chamber portion to stabilize a shape of the lower chamber portion. That is, the lower support portion may be in contact with a major portion of an exterior of the lower chamber portion. A bottom opening may be formed in the lower support portion corresponding to the lower chamber portion, e.g., the bottom opening may be formed in the lower support portion to allow an ejector to push through the bottom opening against the lower tray. The bottom opening may be formed in the lower support portion at an intersection with a center line of the lower chamber portion. That is, the bottom opening may correspond to a center point of an exterior surface of the lower chamber portion.

The lower tray has a convex portion projecting toward the lower chamber portion and configured to deform toward the outside of the lower chamber portion to compensate for an increase in volume during ice formation. The convex portion may be formed corresponding to the lower opening in the lower support portion.

The lower assembly may include a lower heater for heating the lower chamber portion. The lower heater may be a DC heater. By means of the lower heater, it is possible to produce clear ice and/or ice having a shape better corresponding to the shape of the ice chamber. The lower heater may be provided between the lower support portion and the lower tray. The lower heater may be housed within a heater-accommodating slot formed in the lower support portion. The heater-accommodating slot may preferably be formed adjacent to a lower opening of the lower support portion. The heater-accommodating slot may have a depth less than a diameter of the lower heater. Therefore, the lower heater may protrude from the heater-accommodating slot for improved contact with the lower tray.

The lower heater may be in contact with the lower tray. The lower tray may include a heater contact portion that projects toward the lower support portion. That is, the heater contact portion may project toward the lower heater to be in contact with the lower heater, e.g., at least in the closed position of the lower assembly. The heater contact portion may be formed in a position corresponding to the heater receiving slot.

The lower heater may be positioned closer to an axis of symmetry of the lower chamber portion than to a peripheral edge of the lower chamber portion and/or to an open end surface of the lower chamber portion. The lower heater may be positioned closer to a vertical centerline of the lower chamber portion than to a peripheral edge of the lower chamber portion and/or to an open end surface of the lower chamber portion. The lower heater may be positioned such that, in the closed position of the lower assembly, a connecting line between the lower heater and a center of the ice chamber forms an angle less than 45° or less than 30° with an axis of symmetry of the lower chamber portion. The upper assembly may further comprise an upper heater for heating the upper chamber portion. In the closed position of the lower assembly, the lower heater may be positioned closer to a vertical centerline through the ice chamber than the upper heater.

The lower tray may comprise at least three lower chamber portions, preferably positioned along a straight line. A lower chamber portion positioned between at least two other lower chamber portions may have a smaller contact area with the lower heater than the lower chamber portions that have only one adjacent lower chamber portion, i.e., those located in outer positions. This is because the central lower chamber portions will be protected from the cold temperature more than the lower chamber portions in the outer positions.

The lower tray may include a lower mold body defining the lower chamber portion. The lower mold body may have a top surface or end surface for contacting the upper tray in the closed position of the lower assembly. The end surface of the lower mold body may be planar or may have a shape corresponding to the end surface of the upper tray. A circumferential wall may be formed along a peripheral edge of the lower tray. The circumferential wall may surround an open surface of the lower chamber portions and/or the end surface of the lower mold body. The circumferential wall may extend from the lower chamber portion, e.g., in a vertical direction when the lower assembly is in the closed position. That is, in the closed position of the lower assembly, the circumferential wall may extend toward the upper assembly. The circumferential wall of the lower tray may include a first wall portion, e.g., extending linearly or straight in the vertical direction when the lower assembly is in the closed position. The circumferential wall of the lower tray may include a second curved wall portion that bends away from the lower chamber portion, e.g., with a center of the curvature lying on the axis of rotation. The second wall portion may be closer to the axis of rotation than the first wall portion. Preferably, the lower mold body is made of a flexible, i.e., deformable, material. The lower support portion may cover a portion of, e.g., more than half of, an outer surface of the lower mold body to stabilize the shape of the lower chamber portion. At least a portion of the lower mold body may be detachably supported by the lower support portion.

The upper tray may include an upper mold body defining the upper chamber portion. The upper chamber portion may have a top surface or end surface for contacting an end surface of the lower tray in the closed position of the lower assembly. In the closed position of the lower assembly, the upper tray may be inserted into the lower tray to form a predefined space therebetween. In particular, the upper mold body may be inserted into the circumferential wall of the lower mold body with the end surfaces in close contact with one another to form the ice chamber. The upper mold body may be inserted into the circumferential wall while being spaced therefrom by a predefined space to prevent water overflow.

The lower assembly can be rotatable relative to the upper assembly around a horizontal axis of rotation. The axis of rotation can be in the same plane as an open surface of the upper chamber portion and/or an interface between the lower chamber portion and the upper chamber portion in the closed position.

The ice maker may further comprise a lower ejector for removing ice from the lower chamber portion. The lower ejector may be arranged such that in the open position of the lower assembly, the lower ejector may be configured to penetrate through a lower opening in the lower support portion and partially separate the lower tray from the lower support portion. The separation is possible because the lower tray may be deformable. The lower opening may be formed at a position corresponding to a center point of an outer surface of the lower chamber portion. A contact point of the lower ejector on the lower tray may correspond to a projection of a center point of ice on the lower tray. That is, a contact point of the lower ejector on the lower tray may correspond to a point of intersection of an axis of symmetry of the lower chamber portion with the lower tray. By these means, a pushing force may be applied centrally to the ice to push the ice formed in the ice chamber out of the lower tray. When the lower assembly is rotatable relative to the upper assembly around an axis of rotation, the lower ejector may have the shape of a circular arc with its center located on the axis of rotation. Preferably, the lower ejector has a flat end so as not to penetrate the lower tray. That is, an end surface of the lower ejector may be formed parallel to a vertical line. In other words, the end surface of the lower ejector may be formed parallel to a line tangent to an outer surface of the lower tray at a point of first contact of the lower tray with the lower ejector.

The lower tray may comprise multiple lower chamber portions, and the upper tray may correspondingly comprise multiple upper chamber portions, the lower and upper chamber portions forming multiple ice chambers in the closed position of the lower assembly. Multiple lower openings may be formed in the lower support portion, each corresponding to one of the lower chamber portions, respectively. The lower ejector may comprise multiple ejector pins, each corresponding to one of the lower chamber portions, respectively.

The ice maker may further comprise an upper ejector configured to penetrate through an upper opening to remove ice from the upper tray. In the case where multiple ice chambers are provided, multiple upper openings may be formed in the upper tray, each corresponding to one of the upper chamber portions, respectively. In the case where multiple ice chambers are provided, the upper ejector may comprise multiple ejector pins, each corresponding to one of the upper chamber portions, respectively. The upper ejector pins may be arranged to penetrate the upper openings.

The upper tray may include at least one upper opening corresponding to the at least one upper chamber portion. A water supply portion may be connected to the at least one upper opening to fill the lower assembly with water.

In another aspect, a refrigerator or freezer may include an ice maker according to any of the embodiments described herein. The ice maker may be provided with one of a freezing compartment, a refrigeration compartment, and a door for closing either the freezing compartment or the refrigeration compartment.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which a door of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a top box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a top box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of an upper support according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of an upper support according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing a heater coupling portion in the upper case of FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a state in which a heater is coupled to the upper case of FIG. 6. FIG. 15 is a view showing an arrangement of a cable connected to the heater in the upper case. FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing a state in which the upper assembly has been assembled. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a lower assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of a lower case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of a bottom box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of a bottom tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 are bottom perspective views of a bottom tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of a lower tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 24 is a top perspective view of a lower support according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a bottom perspective view of a bottom bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 17 to show a state in which the lower assembly has been assembled.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of a bottom support according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lower heater is coupled to a lower bracket of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a view showing a state in which a lower assembly is coupled to an upper assembly and, at the same time, a cable connected to a lower heater penetrates into an upper case.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 31 is a view showing a state in which ice generation is completed in FIG. 30. FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3 in a water-supplied state.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3 in the ice-making state.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3 in the completed ice-making state.

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3 in an initial state of ice separation.

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3 in a completed state of ice separation.

Detailed description of the achievements

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator of Fig. 1 is opened.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 according to one embodiment may include a cabinet 2 defining a storage space and a door that opens and closes the storage space.

In detail, cabinet 2 may define the storage space, which is divided vertically by a barrier. In this case, a refrigeration compartment 3 may be defined on an upper side, and a freezing compartment 4 may be defined on a lower side.

Accommodating members such as a drawer, a shelf, a basket, and the like may be provided in the refrigerating compartment 3 and the freezing compartment 4.

The door may include a refrigeration compartment door 5 that opens/closes the refrigeration compartment 3 and a freezing compartment door 6 that opens/closes the freezing compartment 4.

Door 5 of the refrigeration compartment can be made up of a pair of left and right doors and can be opened and closed by rotating them. Likewise, door 6 of the freezing compartment can be inserted and removed like a drawer.

Alternatively, the arrangement of the refrigeration compartment 3 and the freezing compartment 4 and the shape of the door may be varied according to the type of refrigerator, but are not limited thereto. For example, the embodiments may be applicable to various types of refrigerators. For example, the freezing compartment 4 and the refrigeration compartment 3 may be arranged on the left and right sides, or the freezing compartment 4 may be arranged above the refrigeration compartment 3.

An ice maker 100 may be provided in the freezing compartment 4. The ice maker 100 is constructed to produce ice using supplied water. In this case, the ice may have a spherical shape. Alternatively, the ice maker 100 may be provided in the freezing compartment door 6, the refrigeration compartment 3, or the freezing compartment door 5.

Furthermore, an ice bin 102 in which ice made after being transferred from the ice maker 100 is stored may be additionally provided below the ice maker 100.

The ice maker 100 and the ice bin 102 may be mounted in the freezing compartment 4 in a state of being respectively mounted in separate housings 101.

A user can open the door 6 of the refrigeration compartment to approach the ice bin 102, thereby obtaining ice.

As another example, a dispenser 7 for dispensing purified water or ice made externally may be provided on the door 5 of the refrigeration compartment.

Likewise, ice made in the ice maker 100 or ice stored in the ice bin 102 after being made in the ice maker 100 may be transferred to the dispenser 7 by a transfer unit. Therefore, the user may obtain ice from the dispenser 7.

The ice maker will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the ice maker according to one embodiment, and Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker according to one embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, the ice maker 100 may include an upper assembly 110 (or upper tray assembly) and a lower assembly 200 (or lower tray assembly).

The lower assembly 200 may rotate relative to the upper assembly 110. For example, the lower assembly 200 may be connected to be rotatable relative to the upper assembly 110.

In a state in which the lower assembly 200 comes into contact with the upper assembly 110, the lower assembly 200 together with the upper assembly 110 can make spherical ice.

That is, the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200 may define an ice chamber 111 for manufacturing spherical ice. The ice chamber 111 may have a chamber having a substantially spherical shape.

As used herein, the term "spherical or hemispherical shape" includes not only a geometrically complete spherical or hemispherical shape but also a geometrically complete spherical-like or hemispherical-like shape.

The upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200 may define multiple ice chambers 111.

Hereinafter, a structure in which three ice chambers are defined by the upper set 110 and the lower set 200 will be described as an example, and also, the embodiments are not limited to the number of ice chambers 111.

In the state in which the ice chamber 111 is defined by the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200, water is supplied to the ice chamber 111 through a water supply part 190.

The water supply part 190 is coupled to the upper assembly 110 to guide the water supplied from the outside to the ice chamber 111.

After making the ice, the lower assembly 200 can rotate in a forward direction. Thus, the spherical ice made between the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200 can be separated from the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200.

The ice maker 100 may further include a drive unit 180 such that the lower assembly 200 may rotate relative to the upper assembly 110.

The drive unit 180 may include a propulsion motor and a power transmission portion for transmitting power from the propulsion motor to the lower assembly 200. The power transmission portion may include one or more gears.

The propulsion motor may be a bidirectional rotary motor. Thus, the lower assembly 200 may rotate in both directions.

The ice maker 100 may further include an upper ejector 300 so that ice may be separated from the upper assembly 110.

The upper ejector 300 may be constructed so that ice closely attached to the upper assembly 110 is separated from the upper assembly 110.

The upper ejector 300 may include an upper ejector body 310 and a plurality of upper ejector pins 320 extending in a direction intersecting the upper ejector body 310.

The upper ejector pins 320 may be provided in the same number of ice chambers 111.

A separation-preventing protrusion 312 for preventing a connection unit 350 from being separated in the state of being coupled to the connection unit 350 to be described later may be provided at each of both ends of the ejector body 310.

For example, the pair of separation-preventing protrusions 312 may protrude in opposite directions from the ejector body 310.

As the upper ejector pin 320 passes through the upper assembly 110 and inserted into the ice chamber 111, the ice within the ice chamber 111 may be pressed.

Ice pressed by the upper ejection pin 320 may be separated from the upper assembly 110.

Furthermore, the ice maker 100 may further include a lower ejector 400 so that ice closely attached to the lower assembly 200 may be separated.

The lower ejector 400 may press the lower assembly 200 to separate ice closely attached to the lower assembly 200 from the lower assembly 200. For example, the lower ejector 400 may be attached to the upper assembly 110. The lower ejector 400 may include a lower ejector body 410 and multiple lower ejector pins 420 protruding from the lower ejector body 410. The lower ejector pins 420 may be provided in the same number of ice chambers 111.

As the lower assembly 200 rotates to transfer the ice, the rotational force of the lower assembly 200 may be transmitted to the upper ejector 300.

For this purpose, the ice maker 100 may further include the connecting unit 350 that connects the lower assembly 200 to the upper ejector 300. The connecting unit 350 may include one or more links.

For example, when the lower assembly 200 rotates in one direction, the upper ejector 300 may be lowered by the connecting unit 350 to allow the upper ejector pin 320 to press the ice.

On the other hand, when the lower assembly 200 rotates in the other direction, the upper ejector 300 can rise through the connection unit 350 to return to its original position.

Hereinafter, the upper assembly 110 and the lower assembly 200 will be described in more detail.

The upper assembly 110 may include an upper tray 150 that defines a portion of the ice chamber 111 that makes ice. For example, the upper tray 150 may define an upper portion of the ice chamber 111. The upper tray 150 may be referred to as the first tray. Alternatively, the upper tray 150 may be referred to as the upper mold portion.

The upper assembly 110 may further include an upper support 170 that fixes a position of the upper tray 150. The upper support 170 may restrict downward movement of the upper tray 150. The upper assembly 110 may further include an upper cage 120 that fixes a position of the upper tray 150. The upper cage 120 may bias a portion of the upper tray 150 toward the upper support 170.

The upper tray 150 may be disposed below the upper box 120. A portion of the upper support 170 may be disposed below the upper tray 150.

As described above, the upper box 120, the upper tray 150 and the upper support 170, which are vertically aligned, can be coupled to each other through a coupling member.

That is, the upper tray 150 can be fixed to the upper box 120 through the coupling of the coupling member.

For example, the water supply part 190 may be fixed to the upper box 120.

The ice maker 100 may further include a temperature sensor 500 that detects a temperature of the upper tray 150.

For example, the temperature sensor 500 may be mounted on the upper box 120. Likewise, when the upper tray 150 is secured to the upper box 120, the temperature sensor 500 may come into contact with the upper tray 150.

The lower assembly 200 may include a lower tray 250 that defines the other portion of the ice chamber 111 that makes the ice. For example, the lower tray 250 may define a lower portion of the ice chamber 111. The lower tray 250 may be referred to as a second tray. Alternatively, the lower tray 250 may be referred to as a lower mold portion.

The lower assembly 200 may further include a lower support 270 that supports a lower portion of the lower tray 250. The lower assembly 200 may further include a lower box 210 of which at least a portion covers an upper side of the lower tray 250.

The lower box 210, the lower tray 250 and the lower support 270 may be coupled to each other via a coupling member.

The ice maker 100 may further include a switch for turning the ice maker 100 on/off. When the user turns the switch 600 on, the ice maker 100 may make ice.

That is, when the switch 600 is turned on, water can be supplied to the ice maker 100. Next, an ice making process for making ice by using cold air and an ice transfer process for transferring the ice through the rotation of the lower assembly 200.

On the other hand, when the switch 600 is manipulated to turn off, it may be impossible to make ice through the ice maker 100. For example, the switch 600 may be provided in the upper box 120.

Upper case

Fig. 6 is a top perspective view of the upper box according to an embodiment, and Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the upper box according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the upper box 120 may be fixed to a housing 101 within the freezing compartment 4 in a state in which the upper tray 150 is fixed.

The upper box 120 may include a top plate for securing the upper tray 150.

The upper tray 150 may be fixed to the upper plate 121 in a state in which a portion of the upper tray 150 comes into contact with a bottom surface of the upper plate 121.

An opening 123 through which a portion of the upper tray 150 passes may be defined in the upper plate 121.

For example, when the upper tray 150 is fixed to the upper plate 121 in a state in which the upper tray 150 is arranged below the upper plate 121, a portion of the upper tray 150 may protrude upward from the upper plate 121 through the opening 123.

Alternatively, the upper tray 150 may not protrude upwardly from the upper plate 121 through the opening 123 but protrude downwardly from the upper plate 121 through the opening 123.

The top plate 121 may include a recessed cavity 122. The opening 123 may be defined in a lower surface 122a of the cavity 122.

Therefore, the upper tray 150 passing through the opening 123 may be arranged in a space defined by the cavity 122.

A heater coupling portion 124 for coupling an upper heater (refer to reference numeral 148 of Fig. 14) that heats the upper tray 150 to transfer ice may be provided in the upper box 120.

For example, the heater coupling portion 124 may be provided on the top plate 121. The heater coupling portion 124 may be arranged below the cavity 122.

The upper box 120 may further include multiple mounting ribs 128 and 129 for mounting the temperature sensor 500.

The pair of mounting ribs 128 and 129 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a direction of an arrow B of FIG. 7. The pair of mounting ribs 128 and 129 may be arranged to orientate relative to each other, and the temperature sensor 500 may be arranged between the pair of mounting ribs 128 and 129. The pair of mounting ribs 128 and 129 may be provided on the top plate 121.

Multiple slots 131 and 132 coupled to the upper tray 150 may be provided on the upper plate 121.

A portion of the upper tray 150 may be inserted into the multiple slots 131 and 132.

The multiple slots 131 and 132 may include a first upper slot 131 and a second upper slot 132 disposed on an opposite side of the first upper slot 131 with respect to the opening 123.

The opening 123 may be defined between the first upper slot 131 and the second upper slot 132.

The first upper slot 131 and the second upper slot 132 may be spaced apart from each other in a direction of an arrow B of Fig. 7.

Although not limited, the plural first upper slots 131 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a direction of an arrow A (hereinafter referred to as the first direction) that crosses a direction of an arrow B (hereinafter referred to as the second direction).

Likewise, the plurality of second upper slots 132 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A.

In this specification, the direction of arrow A may be the same direction as the arranged direction of the multiple ice chambers 111.

For example, the first upper slot 131 may be defined in a curved shape. Therefore, the first upper slot 131 may increase in length.

For example, the second upper slot 132 may be defined in a curved shape. Therefore, the second upper slot 133 may increase in length.

When each of the upper slots 131 and 132 increases in length, a protrusion (which is provided on the upper tray) inserted into each of the upper slots 131 and 132 may increase in length to improve the coupling force between the upper tray 150 and the upper box 120.

A distance between the first upper slot 131 and the opening 123 may be different from that between the second upper slot 132 and the opening 123. For example, the distance between the first upper slot 131 and the opening 123 may be greater than that between the second upper slot 132 and the opening 123.

Also, when viewed from the opening 123 toward each of the upper slots 131, a shape may be provided that is convexly rounded from each of the slots 131 toward the outside of the opening 123.

The upper plate 121 may further include a sleeve 133 into which an upper support coupling projection is inserted, which will be described later.

The sleeve 133 may have a cylindrical shape and extend upward from the upper plate 121.

For example, multiple sleeves 133 may be provided on the top plate 121. The multiple sleeves 133 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A. Likewise, the multiple sleeves 133 may be arranged in multiple rows in the direction of arrow B.

A portion of the multiple sleeves may be arranged between the first two upper slots 131 adjacent to each other.

The other portion of the multiple sleeves may be disposed between the two upper second slots 132 adjacent to each other or be arranged to face a region between the two upper second slots 132. The upper box 120 may further include multiple hinge supports 135 and 136 that allow the lower assembly 200 to rotate.

The plurality of hinge supports 135 and 136 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A with respect to Fig. 7. Also, a first hinge hole 137 may be defined in each of the hinge supports 135 and 136.

For example, the multiple hinge supports 135 and 136 may extend downwardly from the top plate 121. The top box 120 may further include a vertical extension portion 140 extending vertically along a circumference of the top plate 121. The vertical extension portion 140 may extend upwardly from the top plate 121.

The vertical extension portion 140 may include one or more coupling hooks 140a. The upper box 120 may be hook-coupled to the housing 101 by the coupling hooks 140a.

The water supply part 190 may be coupled to the vertical extension part 140.

The upper box 120 may further include a horizontal extension portion 142 extending horizontally outwardly from the vertical extension portion 140.

An outwardly projecting screw coupling portion 142a for screw coupling the upper case 120 to the housing 101 may be provided in the horizontal extension portion 142.

The upper case 120 may further include a lateral circumferential portion 143. The lateral circumferential portion 143 may extend downward from the horizontal extension portion 142.

The side circumferential portion 143 may be arranged to surround a circumference of the lower assembly 200. That is, the side circumferential portion 143 may prevent the lower assembly 200 from being exposed to the outside.

Although the upper box is coupled to the separate housing 101 within the freezing compartment 4 as described above, the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the upper box 120 may be coupled directly to a wall defining the freezing compartment 4.

Top tray

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the upper tray according to an embodiment, Fig. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the upper tray according to an embodiment, and Fig. 10 is a side view of the upper tray according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 10, the upper tray 150 may be made of a non-metallic material and a flexible material that is capable of restoring to its original shape after being deformed by an external force.

For example, the upper tray 150 may be made of a silicone material. As in this embodiment, when the upper tray 150 is made of the silicone material, even if an external force is applied to deform the upper tray 150 during the ice transfer process, the upper tray 150 may return to its original shape. Therefore, despite repeated ice production, spherical ice may be produced.

If the upper tray 150 is made of a metallic material, when the external force is applied to the upper tray 150 to deform the upper tray 150 itself, the upper tray 150 may no longer be restored to its original shape.

In this case, after the upper tray 150 deforms, spherical ice may not be produced. That is, it is impossible to produce spherical ice repeatedly.

On the other hand, like this embodiment, when the upper tray 150 is made of the flexible material that is capable of restoring to its original shape, this limitation can be solved.

Furthermore, when the upper tray 150 is made of the silicone material, the upper tray 150 can be prevented from being melted or thermally deformed by heat provided from an upper heater which will be described later.

Furthermore, when the upper tray 150 is made of the flexible material, cohesion or adhesion between the ice and the upper tray 150 may be reduced, so that the ice can be easily separated from the upper tray 150. The upper tray 150 may include an upper tray body 151 defining an upper chamber or upper chamber portion 152 that is a portion of the ice chamber 111. The upper tray body 151 may be referred to as an upper mold body.

The upper tray body 151 may define multiple upper chambers 152.

For example, the multiple upper chambers 152 may define a first upper chamber 152a, a second upper chamber 152b, and a third upper chamber 152c.

The upper tray body 151 may include three chamber walls 153 defining three independent upper chambers 152a, 152b, and 152c. The three chamber walls 153 may be connected to each other to form a body.

The first upper chamber 152a, the second upper chamber 152b, and the third upper chamber 152c may be arranged in a line. For example, the first upper chamber 152a, the second upper chamber 152b, and the third upper chamber 152c may be arranged in a direction of an arrow A relative to Fig. 9. The direction of arrow A in Fig. 9 may be the same direction as the direction of arrow A in Fig. 7.

At least one inner circumferential surface of the chamber wall 153 may have a hemispherical shape. Accordingly, the upper chamber 152 may have a hemispherical shape. That is, an upper portion of the spherical ice may be formed by the upper chamber 152.

An upper opening 154 through which water is introduced into the upper chamber may be defined on an upper side of the upper tray body 151. For example, three upper openings 154 may be defined in the upper tray body 151. Cold air may be guided into the ice chamber 111 through the upper opening 154.

In the ice transfer process, the upper ejector 300 may be inserted into the upper chamber 152 through the upper opening 154.

As the upper ejector 300 is inserted through the upper opening 154, an inlet wall 155 may be provided in the upper tray 150 to minimize deformation of the upper opening 154 in the upper tray 150.

The inlet wall 155 may be arranged along a circumference of the upper opening 154 and extend upward from the upper tray body 151.

The inlet wall 155 may have a cylindrical shape. Thus, the upper ejector 30 may pass through the upper opening 154 via an interior space of the inlet wall 155.

One or more first connecting ribs 155a may be provided along a circumference of the inlet wall 155 to prevent the inlet wall 155 from deforming while the upper ejector 300 is inserted into the upper opening 154.

The first connecting rib 155a may connect the inlet wall 155 to the upper tray body 151. For example, the first connecting rib 155a may be integrated with the circumference of the inlet wall 155 and an outer face of the upper tray body 151.

Although not limited, the multiple connecting ribs 155a may be arranged along the circumference of the inlet wall 155.

The two inlet walls 155 corresponding to the second upper chamber 152b and the third upper chamber 152c may be connected to each other via the second connecting rib 162. The second connecting rib 162 may also prevent the inlet wall 155 from being deformed.

A water supply guide 156 may be provided in the inlet wall 155 corresponding to one of the three upper chambers 152a, 152b and 152c.

Although not limited, the water supply guide 156 may be provided on the inlet wall corresponding to the second upper chamber 152b.

The water supply guide 156 may be tilted upward from the inlet wall 155 in a direction away from the second upper chamber 152b.

The upper tray 150 may further include a first receiving portion 160. The cavity 122 of the upper box 120 may be received in the first receiving portion 160.

A heater coupling portion 124 may be provided in the cavity 122, and an upper heater (refer to reference numeral 148 in Fig. 14) may be provided in the heater coupling portion 124. Therefore, it may be understood that the upper heater (refer to reference numeral 148 in Fig. 14) is accommodated in the first housing portion 160.

The first housing portion 160 may be arranged in a manner surrounding the upper chambers 152a, 152b, and 152c. The first housing portion 160 may be provided by recessing an upper surface of the upper tray body 151 downward.

The heater coupling part 124 to which the upper heater is coupled (see reference numeral 148 in Fig. 14) can be accommodated in the first housing part 160.

The upper tray 150 may further include a second housing portion 161 (or referred to as the sensor housing portion) in which the temperature sensor 500 is housed.

For example, the second housing portion 161 may be provided in the upper tray body 151. Although not limited, the second housing portion 161 may be provided by embedding a bottom surface of the first housing portion 160 downward.

Furthermore, the second housing portion 161 may be arranged between the two upper chambers adjacent to each other. For example, the second housing portion 161 may be arranged between the first upper chamber 152a and the second upper chamber 152b.

Therefore, interference between the upper heater (reference numeral 148 of Fig. 14) housed in the first housing part 160 and the temperature sensor 500 can be avoided.

In the state in which the temperature sensor 500 is housed in the second housing part 161, the temperature sensor 500 can contact an outer face of the upper tray body 151.

The chamber wall 153 of the upper tray body 151 may include a vertical wall 153a and a curved wall 153b.

The curved wall 153b may be rounded upward in a direction away from the upper chamber 152. The upper tray 150 may further include a horizontal extension portion 164 extending horizontally from the circumference of the upper tray body 151. For example, the horizontal extension portion 164 may extend along a circumference of an upper edge of the upper tray body 151.

The horizontal extension portion 164 may contact the upper box 120 and the upper support 170.

For example, a lower surface 164b (or referred to as the "first surface") of the horizontally extending portion 164 may contact the upper support 170, and an upper surface 164a (or referred to as the "second surface") of the horizontally extending portion 164 may contact the upper case 120.

At least a portion of the horizontal extension portion 164 may be disposed between the upper case 120 and the upper support 170.

The horizontal extension portion 164 may include multiple upper projections 165 and 166 inserted respectively into the multiple upper slots 131 and 132.

The plurality of upper projections 165 and 166 may include a first upper projection 165 and a second upper projection 166 disposed on an opposite side of the first upper projection 165 with respect to the upper opening 154. The first upper projection 165 may be inserted into the first upper slot 131, and the second upper projection 166 may be inserted into the second upper slot 132.

The first upper projection 165 and the second upper projection 166 may protrude upward from the upper surface 164a of the horizontal extension portion 164.

The first upper projection 165 and the second upper projection 166 may be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 9. The direction of arrow B in Fig. 8 may be the same direction as the direction of arrow B in Fig. 7.

Although not limited, the multiple first upper projections 165 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A.

The multiple second upper projections 166 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A.

For example, the first upper projection 165 may be provided in a curved shape. Likewise, for example, the second upper projection 166 may be provided in a curved shape.

In this embodiment, each of the upper projections 165 and 166 can be constructed so that the upper tray 150 and the upper box 120 are coupled with each other, and also, the horizontal extension part is prevented from being deformed during the ice making process or the ice transfer process.

Here, when each of the upper projections 165 and 166 is provided in the curved shape, the distances between the upper projections 165 and 166 and the upper chamber 152 in a longitudinal direction of the upper projections 165 and 166 may be equal to or similar to each other to effectively prevent the horizontal extension portions 264 from being deformed.

For example, the deformation in the horizontal direction of the horizontal extension portion 264 can be minimized to prevent the horizontal extension portion 264 from being deformed by plastic. If, when the horizontal extension portion 264 is deformed by plastic, since the upper tray body is not placed in the correct position during ice making, the shape of the ice may not be close to the spherical shape.

The horizontal extension portion 164 may further include a plurality of lower projections 167 and 168. The plurality of lower projections 167 and 168 may be inserted into a lower slot of the upper support 170, which will be described below.

The plurality of lower projections 167 and 168 may include a first lower projection 167 and a second lower projection 168 disposed on an opposite side of the first lower projection 167 with respect to the upper chamber 152. The first lower projection 167 and the second lower projection 168 may project upwardly from the lower surface 164b of the horizontal extension portion 164.

The first lower projection 167 may be arranged on a side opposite the first upper projection 165 with respect to the horizontal extension portion 164. The second lower projection 168 may be arranged on a side opposite the second upper projection 166 with respect to the horizontal extension portion 164.

The first lower projection 167 may be spaced from the vertical wall 153a of the upper tray body 151. The second lower projection 168 may be spaced from the curved wall 153b of the upper tray body 151. Each of the plurality of lower projections 167 and 168 may also be provided in a curved shape. Since the projections 165, 166, 167 and 168 are disposed on each of the upper and lower surfaces 164a and 164b of the horizontal extension portion 164, deformation in the horizontal direction of the horizontal extension portion 164 can be effectively prevented.

A through hole 169 through which the coupling projection of the upper bracket 170 passes, which will be described later, may be provided in the horizontal extension portion 164.

For example, multiple through holes 169 may be provided in the horizontal extension portion 164.

A portion of the multiple through holes 169 may be arranged between the two first upper projections 165 adjacent to each other or the two first lower projections 167 adjacent to each other.

The other portion of the multiple through holes 169 may be arranged between the two second lower projections 168 adjacent to each other or be arranged to face a region between the two second lower projections 168.

Upper support

Fig. 11 is a top perspective view of the upper support according to an embodiment, and Fig. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the upper support according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the upper support 170 may include a support plate 171 that contacts the upper tray 150.

For example, an upper surface of the support plate 171 may come into contact with the lower surface 164b of the horizontal extension portion 164 of the upper tray 150.

A plate opening 172 through which the upper tray body 151 passes may be defined in the support plate 171.

A circumferential wall 174 that is bent upward may be provided at an edge of the support plate 171. For example, the circumferential wall 174 may contact at least a portion of a circumference of a side surface of the horizontal extension portion 164.

Likewise, an upper surface of the circumferential wall 174 may contact a lower surface of the upper plate 121.

The support plate 171 may include multiple lower slots 176 and 177.

The multiple lower slots 176 and 177 may include a first lower slot 176 into which the first lower projection 167 is inserted and a second lower slot 177 into which the second lower projection 168 is inserted.

The plurality of first lower slots 176 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A on the support plate 171. Likewise, the plurality of second lower slots 177 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A on the support plate 171.

The support plate 171 may further include a plurality of coupling protrusions 175. The plurality of coupling protrusions 175 may project upwardly from the upper surface of the support plate 171.

Each of the coupling projections 175 can pass through the through hole 169 of the horizontal extension part 164 and be inserted into the sleeve 133 of the upper case 120.

In the state in which the coupling projection 175 is inserted into the sleeve 133, an upper surface of the coupling projection 175 may be arranged at the same height as an upper surface of the sleeve 133 or arranged at a height lower than that of the upper surface of the sleeve 133.

A coupling member coupled to the coupling projection 175 may be, for example, a bolt (reference symbol B1 in Fig. 3). The bolt B1 may include a body portion and a head portion having a diameter larger than that of the body portion. The bolt B1 may be coupled to the coupling projection 175 from an upper side of the coupling projection 175.

While the body portion of the bolt B1 is engaged with the mating projection 175, when the head portion contacts the upper surface of the sleeve 133, and the head portion contacts the upper surface of the sleeve 133 and the upper surface of the mating projection 175, assembly of the upper assembly 110 can be completed.

The upper support 170 may further include multiple guide units 181 and 182 for guiding the connection unit 350 connected to the upper ejector 300.

The multiple guide units 181 and 182 may, for example, be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A with respect to Fig. 12.

The guide units 181 and 182 may extend upward from the upper surface of the support plate 171. Each of the guide units 181 and 182 may be connected to the circumferential wall 174.

Each of the guide units 181 and 182 may include a vertically extending guide groove 183. In a state in which both ends of the ejector body 310 of the upper ejector 300 pass through the guide groove 183, the connection unit 350 is connected to the ejector body 310.

Therefore, when the rotational force is transmitted to the ejector body 310 by the connection unit 350 while the lower assembly 200 rotates, the ejector body 310 can move vertically along the guide groove 183.

Upper heater coupling structure

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the heater coupling portion in the upper case of Fig. 6, Fig. 14 is a view illustrating a state in which a heater is coupled to the upper case of Fig. 6, and Fig. 15 is a view illustrating an arrangement of a cable connected to the heater in the upper case.

Referring to Figs. 13 to 15, the heater coupling portion 124 may include a heater housing slot 124a that houses the upper heater 148.

For example, the heater housing slot 124a may be defined by recessing a portion of a lower surface of the cavity 122 of the upper case 120 upwardly.

The heater housing slot 124a may extend along a circumference of the opening 123 of the upper case 120.

For example, the upper heater 148 may be a cable-type heater. Therefore, the upper heater 148 may be foldable. The upper heater 148 may be bent to correspond to a shape of the heater-accommodating slot 124a to accommodate the upper heater 148 in the heater-accommodating slot 124a. The upper heater 148 may be referred to as an ice-separating heater.

The upper heater 148 may be a DC heater that receives DC power. The upper heater 148 may be turned on to transfer ice.

When the heat from the upper heater 148 is transferred to the upper tray 150, ice may be separated from a surface (inner face) of the upper tray 150.

If the upper tray 150 is made of a metallic material, and the heat from the upper heater 148 has a high temperature, a portion of the ice, which is heated by the upper heater 148, may adhere again to the surface of the upper tray after the upper heater 148 is turned off. As a result, the ice may be opaque.

That is, an opaque band that has a shape corresponding to the upper heater can form around the ice.

However, in this embodiment, since the DC heater having low output is used, and the upper tray 150 is made of the silicone material, the amount of heat transferred to the upper tray 150 may be reduced, and therefore the upper tray itself may have low thermal conductivity.

Therefore, the heat may not be concentrated on the local portion of the ice, and a small amount of heat may be applied slowly to prevent the opaque band from forming around the ice because the ice is effectively separated from the upper tray.

The upper heater 148 may be arranged to surround the circumference of each of the multiple upper chambers 152 so that heat from the upper heater 148 is transferred evenly to the multiple upper chambers 152 of the upper tray 150.

Likewise, the upper heater 148 may contact the circumference of each of the chamber walls 153 that respectively define the multiple upper chambers 152. Here, the upper heater 148 may be arranged in a position that is lower than that of the upper opening 154.

Since the heater housing slot 124a is recessed from the cavity 122, the heater housing slot 124a may be defined by an outer wall 124b and an inner wall 124c.

The upper heater 148 may have a diameter larger than that of the heater accommodating groove 124a so that the upper heater 148 protrudes outward from the heater coupling portion 124 in the state in which the upper heater 148 is accommodated in the heater accommodating groove 124a.

Since a portion of the upper heater 148 protrudes outward from the heater accommodating slot 124a in the state in which the upper heater 148 is accommodated in the heater accommodating slot 124a, the upper heater 148 may contact the upper tray 150.

A separation-preventing protrusion 124d may be provided on one of the outer wall 124b and the inner wall 124c to prevent the upper heater 148 housed in the heater-accommodating groove 124a from separating from the heater-accommodating groove 124a.

In Fig. 13, for example, multiple separation-preventing protrusions 124d are provided on the inner wall 124c.

The separation-preventing protrusion 124d may protrude from one end of the inner wall 124c toward the outer wall 124b.

Here, a protruding length of the separation-preventing protrusion 124d may be less than about 1/2 of a distance between the outer wall 124b and the inner wall 124c to prevent the upper heater 148 from being easily separated from the heater-accommodating groove 124a without interfering with insertion of the upper heater 148 by the separation-preventing protrusion 124d.

As illustrated in Fig. 14, in the state in which the upper heater 148 is accommodated in the heater accommodation groove 124a, the upper heater 148 may be divided into an upper rounded portion 148c and a linear portion 148d.

That is, the heater-accommodating groove 124a may include an upper rounded portion and a linear portion. Therefore, the upper heater 148 may be divided into the upper rounded portion 148c and the linear portion 148d to correspond to the upper rounded portion and the linear portion of the heater-accommodating groove 124a.

The upper rounded portion 148c may be a portion arranged along the circumference of the upper chamber 152 and also a portion that is bent to be rounded in a horizontal direction.

The linear portion 148d may be a portion that connects the upper rounded portions 148c corresponding to the upper chambers 152 with each other.

Since the upper heater 148 is arranged at a lower position than that of the upper opening 154, a line connecting two points of the upper rounded portions, which are spaced apart from each other, can pass through the upper chamber 152.

Since the upper rounded portion 148c of the upper heater 148 may be separated from the heater accommodating groove 124a, the separation-preventing projection 124d may be arranged to come into contact with the upper rounded portion 148c.

A through opening 124e may be defined in a lower surface of the heater accommodating slot 124a. When the upper heater 148 is accommodated in the heater accommodating slot 124a, a portion of the upper heater 148 may be disposed in the through opening 124e. For example, the through opening 124e may be defined in a portion of the upper heater 148 facing the separation-preventing projection 124d.

When the upper heater 148 is bent to be horizontally rounded, the tension of the upper heater 148 may increase to cause disconnection, and also, the upper heater 148 may separate from the heater housing slot 124a.

However, when the through opening 124e is defined in the heater accommodation slot 124a like this embodiment, a portion of the upper heater 148 may be disposed in the through opening 124e to reduce the tension of the upper heater 148, thereby preventing the heater accommodation slot 124a from being separated from the upper heater 148.

As illustrated in Fig. 15, in a state in which a power input terminal 148a and a power output terminal 148b of the upper heater 148 are arranged in parallel with each other, the upper heater 148 can pass through a heater through hole 125 defined in the upper case 120.

Since the upper heater 148 is accommodated from a lower side of the upper case 120, the power input terminal 148a and the power output terminal 148b of the upper heater 148 can extend upward to pass through the heater through hole 125.

The power input terminal 148a and the power output terminal 148b passing through the heater through hole 125 may be connected to a first connector 129a.

Likewise, a second connector 129c to which two cables 129d connected to correspond to the power input terminal 148a and the power output terminal 148b are connected can be connected to the first connector 129a.

A first guide portion 126 guiding the upper heater 148, the first connector 129a, the second connector 129c, and the cable 129d may be provided on the upper plate 121 of the upper case 120.

In Fig. 15, for example, a structure is illustrated in which the first guide portion 126 guides the first connector 129a.

The first guide portion 126 may extend upward from the upper surface of the upper plate 121 and have an upper end that is bent in the horizontal direction.

Therefore, the upper bent portion of the first guide part 126 may limit the upward movement of the first connector 126.

The cable 129d may be led out of the upper box 120 after being bent into an approximate "U" shape to avoid interference with the surrounding structure.

Since the cable 129d is bent at least once, the upper box 120 may further include cable guides 127 and 128 for fixing a position of the cable 129d.

The cable guides 127 and 128 may include a first guide 127 and a second guide 128, which are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction. The first guide 127 and the second guide 128 may be bent in a direction corresponding to the bending direction of the cable 129d to minimize damage to the cable 129d to be bent.

That is, each of the first guide 127 and the second guide 128 may include a curved portion.

To limit upward movement of the cable 129d disposed between the first guide 127 and the second guide 128, at least one of the first guide 127 and the second guide 128 may include an upper guide 127a extending toward the other guide.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an upper assembly is mounted.

Referring to Fig. 16, in the state in which the upper heater 148 is coupled to the heater coupling portion 124 of the upper box 120, the upper box 120, the upper tray 150 and the upper support 170 can be coupled with each other.

The first upper projection 165 of the upper tray 150 can be inserted into the first upper slot 131 of the upper box 120. Likewise, the second upper projection 166 of the upper tray 150 can be inserted into the second upper slot 132 of the upper box 120.

Next, the first lower protrusion 167 of the upper tray 150 may be inserted into the first lower slot 176 of the upper support 170, and the second lower protrusion 168 of the upper tray 150 may be inserted into the second lower slot 177 of the upper support 170.

Therefore, the coupling projection 175 of the upper support 170 can pass through the through hole of the upper tray 150 and then be accommodated in the sleeve 133 of the upper case 120. In this state, the bolt B1 can be coupled to the coupling projection 175 from an upper side of the coupling projection 175.

In the state in which the bolt B1 is coupled to the coupling projection 175, the head portion of the bolt B1 may be arranged at a higher position than that of the upper plate 121.

On the other hand, since the hinge supports 135 and 136 are arranged lower than the upper plate 121, while the lower assembly 200 rotates, the upper assembly 110 or the connecting unit 350 can be prevented from interfering with the head portion of the bolt B1.

While the upper assembly 110 is mounted, multiple guide units 181 and 182 of the upper support 170 can project upwardly from the upper plate 121 through the through opening (it is necessary to see reference numerals 139a and 139b of Fig. 6) defined on both sides of the upper plate 121.

As described above, the upper ejector 300 passes through the guide slots 183 of the guide units 181 and 182 projecting upward from the upper plate 121.

Therefore, the upper ejector 300 can be lowered in the state of being arranged above the upper plate 121 and inserted into the upper chamber 152 to separate the ice in the upper chamber 152 from the upper tray 150.

When the upper assembly 110 is assembled, the heater coupling portion 124 to which the upper heater 148 is coupled may be received in the first receiving portion 160 of the upper tray 150.

In the state in which the heater coupling portion 124 is accommodated in the first housing portion 160, the upper heater 148 may contact the lower surface 160a of the first housing portion 160. Like this embodiment, when the upper heater 148 is accommodated in the heater coupling portion 124 having the recessed shape to contact the upper tray body 151, heat from the upper heater 148 may be minimally transferred to other portions except the upper tray body 151.

At least a portion of the upper heater 148 may be arranged to vertically overlap the upper chamber 152 so that heat from the upper heater 148 is smoothly transferred to the upper chamber 152. In this embodiment, the upper rounded portion 148c of the upper heater 148 may vertically overlap the upper chamber 152.

That is, a maximum distance between two points of the upper rounded portion 148c, which are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the upper chamber 152, may be smaller than a diameter of the upper chamber 152. Lower case

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a lower assembly according to an embodiment, Fig. 18 is a top perspective view of a lower box according to an embodiment, and Fig. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the lower box according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 17 to 19, the lower assembly 200 may include a lower tray 250. The lower tray 250 defines the ice chamber 121 together with the upper tray 150.

The lower assembly 200 may further include a lower support 270 that supports the lower tray 250. The lower support 270 and the lower tray 250 may rotate together while the lower tray 250 is seated on the lower support 270.

The lower assembly 200 may further include a lower box 210 for fixing a position of the lower tray 250. The lower box 210 may surround the circumference of the lower tray 250, and the lower support 270 may support the lower tray 250.

The connection unit 350 may be coupled to the lower support 270.

The connection unit 350 may include a first link 352 that receives power from the drive unit 180 to allow the lower support 270 to rotate and a second link 356 connected to the lower support 270 to transmit the rotational force of the lower support 270 to the upper ejector 300 when the lower support 270 rotates.

The first link 352 and the lower support 270 may be connected to each other by a resilient member 360. For example, the resilient member 360 may be a helical spring.

The elastic member 360 may have one end connected to the first link 362 and the other end connected to the lower support 270.

The elastic member 360 provides elastic force to the lower support 270 so that contact between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 is maintained.

In this embodiment, the first link 352 and the second link 356 may be arranged on both sides of the lower support 270, respectively.

One of the first two links may be connected to the drive unit 180 to receive the rotational force from the drive unit 180.

The first two links 352 may be connected to each other by a connecting shaft (see reference numeral 370 in Fig. 5).

An opening 358 through which the ejector body 310 of the upper ejector 300 passes may be defined at an upper end of the second link 356.

The lower box 210 may include a lower plate 211 for securing the lower tray 250.

A portion of the lower tray 250 may be fixed to come into contact with a lower surface of the lower plate 211.

An opening 212 through which a portion of the lower tray 250 passes may be defined in the lower plate 211. For example, when the lower tray 250 is fixed to the lower plate 211 in a state in which the lower tray 250 is disposed below the lower plate 211, a portion of the lower tray 250 may protrude upwardly from the lower plate 211 through the opening 212.

The lower box 210 may further include a circumferential wall 214 (or a cover wall) surrounding the lower tray 250 that passes through the lower plate 211.

The circumferential wall 214 may include a vertical wall 214a and a curved wall 215.

The vertical wall 214a is a wall that extends vertically upward from the bottom plate 211. The curved wall 215 is a wall that is rounded in a direction away from the opening 212 upward from the bottom plate 211.

The vertical wall 214a may include a first coupling slot 214b coupled to the lower tray 250. The first coupling slot 214b may be defined by recessing an upper end of the vertical wall downwardly.

The curved wall 215 may include a second groove 215a for coupling to the lower tray 250.

The second coupling groove 215a may be defined by embedding an upper end of the downwardly curved wall 215.

The lower case 210 may further include a first coupling protrusion 216 and a second coupling protrusion 217.

The first coupling projection 216 may protrude downwardly from the bottom surface of the bottom plate 211. For example, the plurality of first coupling projections 216 may protrude downwardly from the bottom plate 211.

The plurality of first coupling projections 216 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A with respect to Fig. 17.

The second coupling projection 217 may protrude downwardly from the bottom surface of the lower plate 211. For example, the plurality of second coupling projections 217 may protrude from the lower plate 211. The plurality of first coupling projections 217 may be arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A with respect to Fig. 18.

The first coupling protrusion 216 and the second coupling protrusion 217 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow B.

In this embodiment, a length of the first coupling protrusion 216 and a length of the second coupling protrusion 217 may be different from each other. For example, the first coupling protrusion 216 may have a shorter length than that of the second coupling protrusion 217.

The first coupling member may be coupled to the first coupling projection 216 at an upper portion of the first coupling projection 216. On the other hand, the second coupling member may be coupled to the second coupling projection 217 at a lower portion of the second coupling projection 217.

A slot 215b for movement of the coupling member may be defined in the curved wall 215 to prevent the first coupling member from interfering with the curved wall 215 while the first coupling member is coupled to the first coupling projection 216.

The lower box 210 may further include a slot 218 coupled to the lower tray 250.

A portion of the lower tray 250 may be inserted into the slot 218. The slot 218 may be disposed adjacent to the vertical wall 214a.

For example, multiple slots 218 may be defined spaced apart in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 18. Each of the slots 218 may have a curved shape.

The lower case 210 may further include a receiving slot 218a into which a portion of the lower tray 250 is inserted. The receiving slot 218a may be defined by embedding a portion of the lower tray 211 toward the curved wall 215.

The lower case 210 may further include an extension wall 219 that contacts a circumference portion of the side surface of the lower plate 212 in the state of being coupled to the lower tray 250. The extension wall 219 may extend linearly in the direction of arrow A.

Bottom tray

Fig. 20 is a top perspective view of the lower tray according to one embodiment, Figs. 21 and 22 are bottom perspective views of the lower tray according to one embodiment, and Fig. 23 is a side view of the lower tray according to one embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 20 to 23, the lower tray 250 may be made of a flexible material that is capable of restoring to its original shape after being deformed by an external force.

For example, the lower tray 250 may be made of a silicone material. Like this embodiment, when the lower tray 250 is made of a silicone material, the lower tray 250 may be restored to its original shape even through the application of an external force to deform the lower tray 250 during the ice transfer process. Therefore, despite repeated ice production, spherical ice may be produced. If the lower tray 250 is made of a metallic material, when the external force is applied to the lower tray 250 to deform the lower tray 250 itself, the lower tray 250 may no longer be restored to its original shape.

In this case, after the lower tray 250 deforms, spherical ice may not be produced. This means that it is impossible to repeatedly produce spherical ice.

On the other hand, like this embodiment, when the lower tray 250 is made of the flexible material that is capable of restoring to its original shape, this limitation can be solved.

Furthermore, when the lower tray 250 is made of the silicone material, the lower tray 250 can be prevented from being melted or thermally deformed by the heat provided by an upper heater which will be described later.

Furthermore, when the lower tray 250 is made of the flexible material, cohesion or adhesion between the ice and the lower tray 250 may be reduced, so that the ice can be easily separated from the lower tray 250. The lower tray 250 may include a lower tray body 251 defining a lower chamber 252 that is a portion of the ice chamber 111. The lower tray body 251 may be referred to as a lower mold body. The lower tray body 251 may define multiple lower chambers 252.

For example, the multiple lower chambers 252 may include a first lower chamber 252a, a second lower chamber 252b, and a third lower chamber 252c.

The lower tray body 251 may include three chamber walls 252d defining three independent lower chambers 252a, 252b, and 252c. The three chamber walls 252d may be integrated into one body to form the lower tray body 251.

The first lower chamber 252a, the second lower chamber 252b, and the third lower chamber 252c may be arranged in a line. For example, the first lower chamber 252a, the second lower chamber 252b, and the third lower chamber 252c may be arranged in a direction of an arrow A relative to Fig. 20.

An inner circumferential surface of the chamber wall 252d may have a hemispherical shape or a shape similar to the hemispherical shape.

Accordingly, the lower chamber 252 may have a hemispherical shape or a shape similar to a hemispherical shape. That is, a lower portion of the spherical ice may be formed by the lower chamber 252.

In this specification, the shape similar to the hemispherical shape is not a completely hemispherical shape, but a shape that is close to the hemispherical shape.

The lower tray 250 may further include a first extension portion 253 extending horizontally from an edge of an upper end of the lower tray body 251. The first extension portion 253 may be formed continuously along the circumference of the lower tray body 251.

The lower tray 250 may further include a circumferential wall 260 extending upwardly from an upper surface of the first extension portion 253.

A lower surface of the upper tray body 151 may be in contact with the upper surface or end surface 251e of the lower tray body 251. An upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 may be referred to as an end surface.

The circumferential wall 260 may surround the upper tray body 251 seated on the upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251.

In the present embodiment, the circumferential wall 214 of the lower case 210 may surround the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250. When the circumferential wall 214 of the lower case 210 surrounds the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250, the deformation in the outward direction of the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250 during rotation of the lower tray 250 may be limited.

The circumferential wall 260 may include a first wall 260a surrounding the vertical wall 153a of the upper tray body 151 and a second wall 260b surrounding the curved wall 153b of the upper tray body 151.

The first wall 260a is a vertical wall extending vertically from the upper surface of the first extension portion 253. The first wall 260a may be referred to as a first vertical wall portion. The second wall 260b is a curved wall having a shape corresponding to that of the upper tray body 151. That is, the second wall 260b may be rounded upward from the first extension portion 253 in a direction away from the lower chamber 252. The second wall 260b may be referred to as a second curved wall portion.

A center of curvature of the second wall 260b may be a center of rotation C2 of the lower assembly 200.

The lower tray 250 may further include a second extension portion 254 extending horizontally from the circumferential wall 260.

The second extension portion 254 may be arranged higher than the first extension portion 253. Therefore, the first extension portion 253 and the second extension portion 254 may be staggered relative to each other.

The second extension portion 254 may include a first upper projection 255 inserted into the slot 218 of the lower case 210. The first upper projection 255 may be arranged to be horizontally spaced from the circumferential wall 260.

For example, the first upper projection 255 may protrude upwardly from an upper surface of the second extension portion 254 at a position adjacent to the first wall 260a.

Although not limited, multiple first upper projections 255 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A with respect to Fig. 20. The first upper projection 255 may extend, for example, in a curved shape.

The second extension portion 254 may include a first lower projection 257 inserted into a projection groove of the lower case 270, which will be described later. The first lower projection 257 may project downwardly from a bottom surface of the second extension portion 254.

Although not limited, the multiple first lower projections 257 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A.

The first upper projection 255 and the first lower projection 257 may be arranged on opposite sides with respect to a vertical direction of the second extension part 254. At least a portion of the first upper projection 255 may vertically overlap the second lower projection 257.

Multiple through holes may be defined in the second extension portion 254.

The multiple through holes 256 may include a first through hole 256a through which the first coupling protrusion 216 of the lower case 210 passes and a second through hole 256b through which the second coupling protrusion 217 of the lower case 210 passes.

For example, the multiple through holes 256a may be defined to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 20.

Also, the plurality of second through holes 256b may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 20.

The plurality of first through holes 256a and the plurality of second through holes 256b may be arranged on opposite sides relative to the lower chamber 252.

A portion of the plurality of second through holes 256b may be defined between the first two upper projections 255. Likewise, a portion of the plurality of second through holes 256b may be defined between the first two lower projections 257.

The second extension portion 254 may further include a second upper projection 258. The second upper projection 258 may be disposed on an opposite side of the first upper projection 255 relative to the lower chamber 252.

The second upper projection 258 may be arranged to be horizontally spaced from the circumferential wall 260. For example, the second upper projection 258 may project upwardly from an upper surface of the second extension portion 254 at a position adjacent to the second wall 260b.

Although not limited, the multiple second upper projections 258 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 20.

The second upper projection 258 may be accommodated in the accommodation groove 218a of the lower case 210. In the state in which the second upper projection 258 is accommodated in the accommodation groove 218a, the second upper projection 258 may contact the curved wall 215 of the lower case 210.

The circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may include a first coupling projection 262 coupled to the lower box 210.

The first coupling projection 262 may project horizontally from the first wall 260a of the circumferential wall 260. The first coupling projection 262 may be provided on an upper portion of a side surface of the first wall 260a.

The first coupling projection 262 may include a neck portion 262a having a relatively smaller diameter compared to other portions. The neck portion 262a may be inserted into a first coupling groove 214b defined in the circumferential wall 214 of the lower case 210.

The circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may further include a second coupling projection 262c coupled to the lower box 210.

The second coupling projection 262c may project horizontally from the second wall 260a of the circumferential wall 260. The second coupling projection 260c may be inserted into a second coupling groove 215a defined in the circumferential wall 214 of the lower case 210.

As in the present embodiment, the coupling projections 262 and 260c provided on the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250 are respectively inserted into the coupling grooves 214b and 215a defined in the circumferential wall of the lower box 210. Therefore, the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250 can be prevented from being deformed in the inward direction during rotation of the lower tray 250.

For example, a portion of the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may be prevented from being deformed inwardly and inserted into the upper chamber 152 in a process in which the lower assembly 200 moves from an ice separating position to the ice making position.

The second extension portion 254 may include a second lower projection 266. The second lower projection 266 may be disposed on an opposite side of the second lower projection 257 relative to the lower chamber 252.

The second lower projection 266 may project downwardly from a bottom surface of the second extension portion 254. For example, the second lower projection 266 may extend linearly.

A portion of the multiple first through holes 256a may be defined between the second lower projection 266 and the lower chamber 252.

The second lower projection 266 can be received in a guide groove defined in the lower support 270, which will be described later.

The second extension portion 254 may further include a lateral restriction portion 264. The lateral restriction portion 264 restricts horizontal movement of the lower tray 250 in the state in which the lower tray 250 is coupled to the lower box 210 and the lower support 270.

The lateral restriction part 264 protrudes laterally from the second extension part 254 and has a vertical length greater than a thickness of the second extension part 254. For example, a portion of the lateral restriction part 264 may be arranged higher than the upper surface of the second extension part 254, and the other portion of the lateral restriction part 264 may be arranged lower than the lower surface of the second extension part 254.

Therefore, one portion of the lateral restriction part 264 may contact a side surface of the lower case 210, and the other portion may contact a side surface of the lower support 270.

In one example, the lower tray body 251 may have a heater contact portion 251a that contacts the lower heater 296.

In one example, the heater contact portion 251a may be formed on each of the chamber walls 252d. The heater contact portion 251a may protrude from the respective chamber wall 252d. In one example, the heater contact portion 251a may be formed in the shape of a circular ring.

Bottom bracket

Fig. 24 is a top perspective view of the lower bracket according to an embodiment, Fig. 25 is a bottom perspective view of the lower bracket according to an embodiment, and Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of Fig. 17, to illustrate a state in which the lower assembly is mounted.

Referring to Figs. 24 to 26, the lower support 270 may cover more than half of the lower chamber 272 so that the shape of the lower chamber 272 can be maintained in the ice making process.

The lower support 270 may include a support body 271 that supports the lower tray 250.

The support body 271 may include three chamber housing portions 272 that house the three chamber walls 252d of the lower tray 250. The chamber housing portion 272 may have a hemispherical shape.

The support body 271 may have a lower opening 274 through which the lower ejector 400 passes during the ice transfer process. For example, three lower openings 274 may be defined to correspond to the three chamber-accommodating portions 272 in the support body 271.

A reinforcing rib 275 that reinforces the strength may be arranged along a circumference of the lower opening 274.

Furthermore, the two adjacent housing parts 272 of the three housing parts 272 can be connected to each other by a connecting rib 273. The connecting rib 273 can reinforce the strength of the chamber walls 252d.

The lower support 270 may further include a first extension wall 285 extending horizontally from an upper end of the support body 271.

The lower support 270 may further include a second extension wall 286 that is formed to be stepped relative to the first extension wall 285 at an edge of the first extension wall 285.

An upper surface of the second extension wall 286 may be arranged higher than the first extension wall 285.

The first extension portion 253 of the lower tray 250 may be seated on an upper surface 271a of the support body 271, and the second extension portion 285 may surround the side surface of the first extension portion 253 of the lower tray 250. Here, the second extension wall 286 may contact the side surface of the first extension portion 253 of the lower tray 250.

The lower support 270 may further include a protrusion slot 287 that receives the first lower protrusion 257 of the lower tray 250.

The protrusion slot 287 may extend in a curved shape. The protrusion slot 287 may be defined, for example, in a second extension wall 286.

The lower support 270 may further include a first coupling slot 286a to which a first coupling member B2 passing through the first coupling projection 216 of the upper box 210 is coupled.

The first coupling slot 286a may be provided, for example, in the second extension wall 286.

The plurality of first mating slots 286a may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another in the direction of arrow A in the second extension wall 286. A portion of the plurality of first mating slots 286a may be defined between the two adjacent shoulder slots 287.

The lower support 270 may further include a projection through hole 286b through which the second coupling projection 217 of the upper box 210 passes.

The protrusion through hole 286b may be provided, for example, in the second extension wall 286. A sleeve 286c surrounding the second coupling protrusion 217 passing through the protrusion through hole 286b may be provided in the second extension wall 286. The sleeve 286c may have a cylindrical shape with an open lower portion.

The first coupling member B2 can be coupled to the first coupling groove 286a after passing through the first coupling projection 216 from an upper side of the lower case 210.

The second coupling member B3 may be coupled to the second coupling projection 217 from a lower side of the lower bracket 270.

The sleeve 286c may have a lower end that is arranged at the same height as a lower end of the second coupling projection 217 or arranged at a lower height than the lower end of the second coupling projection 217.

Therefore, while the second coupling member B3 is coupled, the head portion of the second coupling member B3 may contact the bottom surfaces of the second coupling projection 217 and the sleeve 286c or may contact a bottom surface of the sleeve 286c.

The lower support 270 may further include an outer wall 280 arranged to surround the lower tray body 251 in a state of being spaced outwardly from the outside of the lower tray body 251.

The outer wall 280 may, for example, extend downward along an edge of the second extension wall 286.

The lower support 270 may further include multiple hinge bodies 281 and 282 respectively connected to the hinge supports 135 and 136 of the upper box 210.

The plurality of hinge bodies 281 and 282 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a direction of an arrow A of Fig. 24. Each of the hinge bodies 281 and 282 may further include a second hinge hole 281a.

The shaft connection portion 353 of the first link 352 may pass through the second hinge hole 281. The shaft connection portion 370 may be connected to the shaft connection portion 353.

A distance between the multiple hinge bodies 281 and 282 may be smaller than that between the multiple hinge supports 135 and 136. Therefore, the multiple hinge bodies 281 and 282 may be arranged between the multiple hinge supports 135 and 136.

The lower support 270 may further include a coupling shaft 283 to which the second link 356 is rotatably coupled. The coupling shaft 383 may be disposed on each of both surfaces of the outer wall 280.

Furthermore, the lower support 270 may further include a resilient member engaging portion 284 to which the resilient member 360 is engaged. The resilient member engaging portion 284 may define a space in which a portion of the resilient member 360 is received. The resilient member 360 is received in the resilient member engaging portion 284 to prevent the resilient member 360 from interfering with the surrounding structure.

Furthermore, the elastic member coupling portion 284 may include a hook portion 284a onto which a lower end of the elastic member 370 is engaged.

Lower heater coupling structure

Fig. 27 is a plan view of the lower bracket according to an embodiment, Fig. 28 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a lower heater is coupled to the lower bracket of Fig. 27, and Fig. 29 is a view illustrating a state in which the cable connected to the lower heater passes through the upper case in a state in which the lower assembly is coupled to the upper assembly.

Referring to Figs. 27 to 29, the ice maker 100 according to this embodiment may further include a lower heater 296 for applying heat to the lower tray 250 during the ice making process.

The lower heater 297 can provide heat to the lower chamber 252 during the ice making process so that the ice inside the ice chamber 111 is frozen from an upper side.

Furthermore, since the lower heater 296 generates heat in the ice-making process, bubbles within the ice chamber 111 may move downward during the ice-making process. When the ice is completely made, a remaining portion of the spherical ice, except for the lowest portion of the ice, may be transparent. According to this embodiment, spherical ice that is substantially transparent may be manufactured. For example, the lower heater 296 may be a cable-type heater.

The lower heater 296 may be installed on the lower support 270. The lower heater 296 may also contact the lower tray 250 to provide heat to the lower chamber 252.

For example, the lower heater 296 may contact the lower tray body 251. Also, the lower heater 296 may be arranged to surround the three chamber walls 252d of the lower tray body 251. The lower support 270 may further include a heater coupling portion 290 to which the lower heater 296 is coupled.

The heater coupling portion 290 may include a heater accommodating slot 291 that is recessed downward from the chamber accommodating portion 272 of the lower tray body 251.

Since the heater accommodation groove 291 is recessed, the heater coupling portion 290 may include an inner wall 291 a and an outer wall 291 b.

The inner wall 291 a may have, for example, a ring shape, and the outer wall 291 b may be arranged to surround the inner wall 291 a.

When the lower heater 296 is received in the heater receiving slot 291, the lower heater 296 may surround at least a portion of the inner wall 291a.

The lower opening 274 may be defined in a region defined by the inner wall 291a. Therefore, when the chamber wall 252d of the lower tray 250 is received in the chamber receiving portion 272, the chamber wall 252d may contact an upper surface of the inner wall 291a. The upper surface of the inner wall 291a may be a rounded surface corresponding to the chamber wall 252d having the hemispherical shape.

The lower heater may have a diameter larger than a recessed depth of the heater housing groove 291 so that a portion of the lower heater 296 protrudes outwardly from the heater housing groove 291 in the state in which the lower heater 296 is housed in the heater housing groove 291.

A separation-preventing protrusion 291c may be provided on one of the outer wall 291b and the inner wall 291a to prevent the lower heater 296 housed in the heater-accommodating groove 291 from separating from the heater-accommodating groove 291.

In Fig. 26, separation prevention protrusions 291c are provided on the inner wall 291a.

Since the inner wall 291a has a smaller diameter than that of the chamber housing part 272, the lower heater 296 can move along a surface of the chamber housing part 272 and then be accommodated in the heater housing groove 291 in a mounting process of the lower heater 296.

That is, the lower heater 296 is accommodated in the heater accommodating groove 291 from an upper side of the outer wall 291a toward the inner wall 291a. Therefore, the separation preventing protrusion 291c may be provided on the inner wall 291a to prevent the lower heater 296 from interfering with the separation preventing protrusion 291c while the lower heater 296 is accommodated in the heater accommodating groove 291. The separation preventing protrusion 291c may protrude from an upper end of the inner wall 291a toward the outer wall 291b.

A protruding length of the separation-preventing protrusion 291c may be approximately 1/2 of a distance between the outer wall 291b and the inner wall 291a.

As illustrated in Fig. 28, in the state in which the lower heater 296 is accommodated in the heater accommodation groove 291, the lower heater 296 may be divided into a lower rounded portion 296a and a linear portion 296b.

That is, the heater accommodating groove 291 may include a lower rounded portion and a linear portion. Therefore, the lower heater 296 may be divided into the lower rounded portion 296a and the linear portion 296b to correspond to the lower rounded portion and the linear portion of the heater accommodating groove 296. The lower rounded portion 296a may be a portion disposed along the circumference of the lower chamber 252 and also a portion that is bent to be rounded in a horizontal direction.

The linear portion 296b may be a portion that connects the lower rounded portions 296a corresponding to the lower chambers 252 with each other.

Since the lower rounded portion 296a of the lower heater 296 may be separated from the heater accommodating groove 291, the separation-preventing projection 291c may be arranged to come into contact with the lower rounded portion 296a.

A through opening 291d may be defined in a bottom surface of the heater accommodating slot 291. When the lower heater 296 is accommodated in the heater accommodating slot 291, a portion of the lower heater 296 may be disposed in the through opening 291d. For example, the through opening 291d may be defined in a portion of the lower heater 296 facing the separation preventing projection 291c.

When the lower heater 296 is bent to be horizontally rounded, the tension of the lower heater 296 may increase to cause disconnection, and also, the lower heater 296 may separate from the heater accommodating slot 291.

However, when the through opening 291d is defined in the heater accommodation groove 291 like this embodiment, a portion of the lower heater 296 may be disposed in the through opening 291d to reduce the tension of the lower heater 296, thereby preventing the heater accommodation groove 291 from separating from the lower heater 296.

The lower support 270 may include a first guide groove 293 that guides a power input terminal 296c and a power output terminal of the lower heater 296 accommodated in the heater accommodation groove 291 and a second guide groove 294 that extends in a direction crossing the first guide groove 293.

For example, the first guide groove 293 may extend in a direction of an arrow B in the heater housing portion 291.

The second guide groove 294 may extend from one end of the first guide groove 293 in a direction of an arrow A. In this embodiment, the direction of the arrow A may be a direction that is parallel to the extension direction of a central axis of rotation C1 of the lower assembly.

Referring to Fig. 28, the first guide groove 293 may extend from one of the left and right camera housing parts except for the middle camera housing part of the three camera housing parts.

For example, in Fig. 28, the first guide groove 293 extends from the camera housing part, which is arranged on the left side, of the three camera housing parts.

As illustrated in Fig. 28, in a state in which the power input terminal 296c and the power output terminal 296d of the lower heater 296 are arranged in parallel with each other, the lower heater 296 can be accommodated in the first guide groove 293.

The power input terminal 296c and the power output terminal 296d of the lower heater 296 may be connected to a first connector 297a.

A second connector 297b to which two cables 298 connected to correspond to the power input terminal 296c and the power output terminal 296d are connected may be connected to the first connector 297a. In this embodiment, in the state in which the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are connected to each other, the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are accommodated in the second guide groove 294.

The cable 298 connected to the second connector 297b is led out of the end of the second guide slot 294 to the outside of the lower support 270 through an exit slot 295 defined in the lower support 270.

According to this embodiment, since the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are accommodated in the second guide groove 294, the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are not exposed to the outside when the lower assembly 200 is completely assembled.

As described above, the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b may not be exposed to the outside to prevent the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b from interfering with the surrounding structure while the lower assembly 200 rotates and prevent the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b from separating. Since the first connector 297a and the second connector 297b are received in the second guide groove 294, a portion of the cable 298 may be disposed in the second guide groove 294, and the other portion may be disposed outside the lower support 270 by means of the exit groove 295.

Here, since the second guide groove 294 extends in a direction parallel to the central axis of rotation C1 of the lower assembly 200, a portion of the cable 298 may extend in the direction parallel to the central axis of rotation C1. The other portion of the cable 298 may extend from the outside of the lower support 270 in a direction crossing the central axis of rotation C1.

Depending on the arrangement of the cables 298, the tensile force may not simply act on the cables 298, but the torsional force may act on the cables 298 during rotation of the lower assembly 200.

When comparing that the tensile force acts on the cable 298, if the torsion acts on the cable 298, the possibility of disconnection of the cable 298 may be very small.

According to this embodiment, while the lower assembly 200 rotates, the lower heater 296 can be held in a fixed position, and a twisting force can act on the cable 298 to prevent the lower heater 296 from being damaged and disconnected.

A separation-preventing protrusion 293a for preventing the lower heater 296 or the accommodated cable 298 from separating may be provided in at least one of the first guide groove 293 and the second guide groove 294.

The power input terminal 296c and the power output terminal 296d of the lower heater 296 are arranged in the first guide groove 293. Here, since heat is also generated at the power input terminal 296c and the power output terminal 296d, the heat supplied to the left chamber housing portion to which the first guide groove 293 extends may be greater than that supplied to other chamber housing portions.

In this case, if the intensities of the heat supplied to each chamber housing part are different, the transparency of the spherical ice made after the ice making process and the ice transfer process can be changed for each ice.

Therefore, a diverting accommodation groove 292 may be further provided in the chamber accommodation portion (e.g., the right chamber accommodation portion) that is disposed farthest from the first guide groove 293 of the three chamber accommodation portions to minimize a difference in transparency for each ice. For example, the diverting accommodation groove 292 may extend outwardly from the heater accommodation groove 291 and then be bent to be arranged in a shape that is connected to the heater accommodation groove 291.

When a portion 296e of the lower heater 296 is further accommodated in the diverting housing groove 292, a contact area between the chamber wall accommodated in the right chamber housing portion 272 and the lower heater 296 may be increased.

Therefore, a projection 292a for fixing a position of the lower heater accommodated in the diverting housing groove 292 may be additionally provided on the right chamber housing portion 272.

Referring to Fig. 29, in the state in which the lower assembly 200 is coupled to the upper case 120 of the upper assembly 110, the cable 298 led out of the lower support 270 may pass through a cable through slot 138 defined in the upper case 120 to extend upward from the upper case 120. A restriction guide 139 for restricting movement of the cable 298 passing through the cable through slot 138 may be provided in the cable through slot 138. The restriction guide 139 may have a shape that is bent plural times, and the cable 298 may be arranged in a region defined by the restriction guide 139.

Fig. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 3, and Fig. 31 is a view illustrating a state in which ice is completely made in Fig. 30.

In Fig. 30, a state in which the upper tray and the lower tray come into contact with each other is illustrated. With reference to Fig. 30, the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 vertically contact each other to complete the ice chamber 111.

In this sense, the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 can be made of the same material.

When the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 are made of the same material, and the hardness of the upper tray 150 and the hardness of the lower tray 250 are the same, while the lower surface 151a of the upper tray 150 and the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 are in contact with each other, the adhesion between them is reduced.

On the other hand, when the hardness of the upper tray 150 and the hardness of the lower tray 250 are different from each other, while the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray 150 and the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 are in contact with each other, a degree of deformation of a tray having a relatively low hardness is greater than that of the other tray. Therefore, the adhesion between the bottom surface 151a of the upper tray 150 and the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 is improved.

In the ice separation process, the upper ejector 300 passes through the upper opening 154 and presses the ice into the ice chamber 111.

In this regard, it is necessary to prevent the upper ejector 300 from deforming along with the ice during the ice pressing process. On the other hand, when the lower ejector 400 presses the ice, the lower tray 250 must deform smoothly to improve ice separation performance.

Therefore, the hardness of the upper tray 150 may be greater than the hardness of the lower tray 250.

Furthermore, when the hardness of the upper tray 150 is the same as the hardness of the lower tray 250, after ice making is completed, the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 serve as one tray in a portion in which the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 are in contact with each other. Therefore, there is a possibility that the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 may not be easily separated from each other.

However, when the hardness of the upper tray 150 is greater than the hardness of the lower tray 250, in the ice making process, the adhesion between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 can be improved, and in the ice separating process, the lower tray 250 and the upper tray 150 can be easily separated from each other in the rotation of the lower tray 250.

The lower surface 151a of the upper tray body 151 contacts the upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251.

Here, in the state in which the upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 contacts with the lower surface 151a of the upper tray body 151, the elastic force of the elastic member 360 is applied to the lower support 270.

The elastic force of the elastic member 360 can be applied to the lower tray 250 by the lower support 270, and therefore, the upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 can press the lower surface 151a of the upper tray body 151.

Therefore, in the state in which the upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 comes into contact with the lower surface 151a of the upper tray body 151, the surfaces can be pressed relative to each other to improve adhesion.

As described above, when the adhesion between the upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 and the lower surface 151a of the upper tray increases, a gap may not be produced between the two surfaces to prevent ice having a thin band shape along a circumference of the spherical ice from being made after ice making is completed.

The first extension portion 253 of the lower tray 250 is seated on the upper surface 271a of the support body 271 of the lower support 270. Also, the second extension wall 286 of the lower support 270 contacts a side surface of the first extension portion 253 of the lower tray 250.

The second extension portion 254 of the lower tray 250 may be seated on the second extension wall 286 of the lower support 270.

In the state in which the lower surface 151a of the upper tray body 151 is seated on the upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251, the upper tray body 151 may be accommodated in an inner space of the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250.

In this case, the vertical wall 153a of the upper tray body 151 may be arranged to face the vertical wall 260a of the lower tray 250, and the curved wall 153b of the upper tray body 151 may be arranged to face the second wall 260b of the lower tray 250.

An outer face of the chamber wall 153 of the upper tray body 151 is spaced from an inner face of the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250. That is, a space can be defined between the outer face of the chamber wall 153 of the upper tray body 151 and the inner face of the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250.

Water supplied through the water supply portion 180 is accommodated in the ice chamber 111. When a relatively large amount of water is supplied relative to a volume of the ice chamber 111, water not accommodated in the ice chamber 111 may flow into the space between the outer face of the chamber wall 153 of the upper tray body 151 and the inner face of the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even if a relatively large amount of water is supplied relative to the volume of the ice chamber 111, the water can be prevented from overflowing from the ice maker 100. The larger the space, the larger the volume of the lower assembly 200. Therefore, the space is defined smaller than the circumferential wall 260 in thickness so that the volume of the lower assembly 200 increases. A diameter of the space may be greater than 1/100 and less than 1/50 of a diameter of the ice chamber 100. In the state in which the upper surface 251e of the lower tray body 251 comes into contact with the lower surface 151a of the upper tray body 151, the upper surface of the circumferential wall 260 may be arranged higher than the upper opening 14 of the upper tray 150 or the upper chamber 152.

A heater contact portion 251a for allowing the contact area with the lower heater 296 to be increased may further be provided on the lower tray body 251.

The heater contact portion 251a may protrude from the bottom surface of the lower tray body 251. In one example, the heater contact portion 251a may protrude from a chamber wall 252d having a rounded outer surface.

The heater contact portion 251a may be formed in the shape of a ring. The bottom surface of the heater contact portion 251a may be flat. Therefore, the heater contact portion 251a may be in frontal contact with the lower heater 296.

Although not limited, in the state in which the lower heater 296 contacts the heater contact portion 251a, the lower heater 296 may be arranged lower than an intermediate point of a height of the lower chamber 252.

A portion of the heater contact portion 251a may be located between the upper surface of the inner wall 291a and the upper surface of the outer wall 291b while the heater contact portion 251a is in contact with the lower heater 296.

The lower tray body 251 further includes a convex portion 251b in which a portion of the lower portion of the lower tray body 251 is convex upward. In one example, the chamber wall 252d may include the convex portion 251b.

Referring to Fig. 30, a portion of the chamber wall 252d is supported by the lower support 270, and its other portion is not supported by the chamber wall 252d. Therefore, the chamber wall 252d may include a contact region in contact with the lower support 270 and a non-contact region in non-contact with the lower support 270. At least a portion of the convex portion 251b may be provided in the non-contact region.

The convex portion 251b may be constructed to be convex toward the center of the ice chamber 111. The lower chamber 252 may be formed in a hemispherical shape except for the convex portion 251b.

In another aspect, the convex portion 251 b may be convex in a direction away from the lower opening 274 of the lower support 270.

A cavity 251c may be defined below the convex portion 251b such that the convex portion 251b has substantially the same thickness as the other portion of the lower tray body 251.

In this specification, the term "substantially the same" is a concept that includes both the same form and a form that is not similar but there is little difference.

The convex portion 251b may be arranged to face vertically toward the lower opening 274 of the lower support 270. The center of the convex portion 251b may coincide with the center of the lower opening 274.

A vertical center line C3 passing through the center of the ice chamber 111 may pass through the upper opening 153 and the convex portion 251d and the lower opening 274.

The heater contact portion 251a may be constructed to surround the convex portion 251b.

The lower opening 274 may be defined just below the lower chamber 252. That is, the lower opening 274 may be defined just below the convex portion 251b.

The diameter D2 of the lower opening 274 may be smaller than the radius (1/2 * D7) of the ice chamber 111 so that the contact area between the lower support 270 and the lower tray 250 is increased.

The convex portion 251 b may have a diameter D smaller than D2 of the lower opening 274.

When cold air is supplied to the ice chamber 111 in the state in which water is supplied to the ice chamber 111, the liquid water changes phase to solid ice. Here, the water can expand as the water changes phase. The expansive force of the water can be transmitted to each of the upper tray body 151 and the lower tray body 251.

In the case of this embodiment, although other portions of the lower tray body 251 are surrounded by the support body 271, a portion (hereinafter referred to as "corresponding portion") corresponding to the lower opening 274 of the support body 271 is not surrounded.

If the lower tray body 251 has a complete hemispherical shape, when the expansive force of water is applied to the corresponding portion of the lower tray body 251 corresponding to the lower opening 274, the corresponding portion of the lower tray body 251 is deformed toward the lower opening 274.

In this case, although the water supplied to the ice chamber 111 exists in a spherical shape before ice production, the corresponding portion of the lower tray body 251 deforms after ice production. Therefore, additional ice having a projecting shape can be produced from the spherical ice by means of a space produced by the deformation of the corresponding portion.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the convex portion 251 b is provided on the lower tray body 251 taking into account the deformation of the lower tray body 251 so that the ice has a completely spherical shape. The convex portion 251 b compensates for the increase in ice volume during the ice-making process.

In FIG. 30, the line passing vertically through the center of the ice chamber 111 may be referred to as the vertical center line C3. In one example, the vertical center line C3 may pass through the upper opening 154 and the lower opening 274.

In the present embodiment, the convex portion 251b is pressed by the lower ejector 400 in an ice separating process.

The lower heater 296 may be positioned radially outward from the lower opening 274 such that the lower ejector 400 and the lower heater 296 do not interfere with each other while the lower ejector 400 presses the convex portion 251 b. Furthermore, the lower heater 296 may be positioned radially outward from the convex portion 251 b.

In one example, a lower round portion of the lower heater 296 may be constructed to surround the convex portion 251 b in the horizontal direction while being located radially outward from the convex portion 251 b.

As shown in FIG. 30, before ice making is completed, the lowest level 251g of the lower tray 250 is positioned away from the vertical center line C3.

Before completion of ice making, the lowest level 111a of the ice chamber 111 may be positioned higher than the lower heater 296.

Furthermore, prior to completing ice making, at least a portion of the lower heater 296 may be positioned higher than the lowest level 251g of the lower tray 250.

Before completion of ice making, the highest level 251d of the convex portion 251a may be located higher than the lowest level 111a of the ice chamber 111. In addition, the highest level 251c1 of the cavity 251c may be located lower than the lowest level 111a of the ice chamber 111.

Before completion of ice making, the highest level 251c1 of the cavity 251c may be positioned higher than the lower heater 296 or the heater contact portion 251a.

Before ice making is completed, the highest level 251 c1 of the cavity 251 c may be located higher than the lowest level 251 g of the lower tray 250.

In one example, the diameter D1 of the convex portion 251 b is smaller than the diameter D2 of the lower opening 274. Therefore, when ice making is completed as shown in FIG. 31, the convex portion 251 b is deformed so that the convex portion can be located within the lower opening 274.

Furthermore, once ice making is complete, the lowest level 251f of the lower tray 250 may be located at the vertical center line C3. Furthermore, once ice making is complete, the lowest level 251f of the lower tray 250 is close to the vertical center line C3.

Therefore, the distance between the lowest level 251f of the lower tray 250 and the vertical center line C3 after the completion of ice making is smaller than the distance between the lowest level 251g of the lower tray 250 and the vertical center line C3 after the completion of ice making.

When ice making is complete, the lowest level 251f of the lower tray 250 may be located lower than the lower heater 296.

When ice making is completed, the lowest level 11 1b of the ice chamber 111 may be located lower than the highest level of the lower heater 296.

In this embodiment, the water supplied to the ice chamber 111 may not have a spherical shape before the ice is produced. However, after the ice has been completely produced, the convex portion 251 b of the lower tray body 251 moves toward the lower opening 274, and thus, spherical ice can be produced.

In the present embodiment, the convex portion 251b is formed. As the cavity 251c is formed beneath the convex portion 251b, deformation of the convex portion 251b can be facilitated. Furthermore, after the convex portion 251b is deformed in the cavity 251c, the convex portion 251b can be easily restored to its original shape when the external force is removed.

Hereinafter, a process of making ice using the ice maker according to an embodiment will be described.

Fig. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3 in a water supply state, and Fig. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3 in an ice making state.

Fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3 in a state in which ice is completely made, Fig. 35 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3 in an initial state of ice separation, and Fig. 36 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3 in a completed state of ice separation.

Referring to Figs. 32 to 36, first, the lower assembly 200 rotates to a water supply position.

The upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 is spaced from the bottom surface or end surface 151e of the upper tray 150 at the water supply position of the lower assembly 200. The lower surface 151e of the upper tray 150 may be referred to as an end surface.

Although not limited, the lower surface 151e of the upper tray 150 may be arranged at a height that is equal to or similar to a center of rotation C2 (referred to as the horizontal rotation axis) of the lower assembly 200.

The center of rotation C2 of the lower assembly 200 may be located on a face extending from the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250. Alternatively, the center of rotation C2 of the lower assembly 200 may be located on a face extending from the contact face of the lower tray 250 and the upper tray 150.

In this embodiment, the direction in which the lower assembly 200 rotates (in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing) is called the forward direction, and the opposite direction (in a clockwise direction) is called the reverse direction.

Although not limited, an angle between the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 and the lower surface 151e of the upper tray 150 at the water supply position of the lower assembly 200 may be approximately 8 degrees.

In this state, the water is guided by the water supply part 190 and supplied to the ice chamber 111.

Here, water is supplied to the ice chamber 111 through an upper opening of the multiple upper openings 154 of the upper tray 150.

In the state in which the water supply is completed, a portion of the supplied water may be completely filled into the lower chamber 252, and the other portion of the supplied water may be completely filled into the space between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250.

For example, the upper chamber 151 may have the same volume as the space between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250. Therefore, the water between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 may be completely filled in the upper tray 150. In another example, the volume of the upper chamber 152 may be greater than the volume of the space between the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250.

In the case of this embodiment, a channel for communication between the three lower cameras 252 may be provided in the lower tray 250.

As described above, although the channel for water flow is not provided in the lower tray 250, since the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 and the lower surface 151e of the upper tray 150 are spaced apart from each other, water can flow to the other lower chamber along the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 when water is completely filled in a specific lower chamber in the water supply process.

Therefore, water can be completely filled in each of the multiple lower chambers 252 of the lower tray 250.

In the case of this embodiment, since the channel for communication between the lower chambers 252 is not provided in the lower tray 250, additional ice having a projection shape around the ice can be prevented from being made after the ice making process.

In the state in which the water supply is completed, as illustrated in Fig. 33, the lower assembly 200 rotates in reverse. When the lower assembly 200 rotates in reverse, the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 is close to the lower surface 151e of the upper tray 150.

Therefore, the water between the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 and the lower surface 151e of the upper tray 150 can be divided and distributed into multiple upper chambers 152.

Also, when the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 and the lower surface 151e of the upper tray 150 are closely fixed to each other, water can be completely filled into the upper chamber 152.

In the state in which the upper surface 251e of the lower tray 250 and the lower surface 151e of the upper tray 150 are closely fixed to each other, a position of the lower assembly 200 may be referred to as the ice-making position. The ice-making position may be referred to as the closed position.

The upper ends 260d and 260e of the circumferential wall 260a of the lower tray 250 may be positioned higher than the upper opening 154 such that, in the process of supplying water, water supplied in excess and moved into the space in the process in which the lower assembly 200 moves from the water supply position to the ice making position is prevented from overflowing out.

Furthermore, the upper ends 260d and 260e of the circumferential wall 260 of the lower tray 250 may be located higher than the highest water level in the ice chamber 111.

In the ice making position, the second wall 260b of the circumferential wall 260 is located closer to a rotational center C2 of the lower assembly 200 (or lower tray 250) than the first wall 260b.

A center of curvature of the second wall 260b may coincide with the center of rotation C2 as an example.

In the state in which the lower assembly 200 moves to the ice making position, ice making starts.

Since the water pressure force during ice making is smaller than the force to deform the convex portion 251b of the lower tray 250, the convex portion 251b may not be deformed to maintain its original shape.

When ice making starts, the lower heater 296 is turned on. When the lower heater 296 is turned on, heat from the lower heater 296 is transferred to the lower tray 250.

Therefore, when ice making is carried out in the state where the lower heater 296 is turned on, ice can be made from the upper side in the ice chamber 111.

That is, water in a portion adjacent to the upper opening 154 in the ice chamber 111 freezes first. Since ice is made from the upper side in the ice chamber 111, bubbles in the ice chamber 111 may move downward.

In the present embodiment, the output of the lower heater 296 may vary depending on the mass per unit height of water in the ice chamber 111.

If the heating amount of the lower heater 296 is constant, a rate at which ice is generated per unit height may vary since the mass per unit height of water may vary in the ice chamber 111.

For example, when the mass per unit height of water is small, the rate of ice formation is rapid, whereas when the mass per unit height of water is large, the rate of ice generation is slow.

If the rate of ice generation per unit height of water is not constant, the transparency of the ice can vary as the height varies. In particular, when ice is generated at a high rate, bubbles may not move from the ice to the water, and the ice thus formed may include bubbles, thereby reducing transparency.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the output of the lower heater 296 can be controlled based on the mass per unit height of water in the ice chamber 111.

When the ice chamber 111 is formed into a sphere shape, the mass per unit height of water increases from the upper side to the lower side, and then the maximum at the boundary of the upper tray 150 and the lower tray 250 decreases again to the lower side.

Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the output of the lower heater 296 may initially decrease and then increase.

While ice is continuously made from the upper side to the lower side in the ice chamber 111, the ice may come into contact with an upper surface of a block portion 251 b of the lower tray 250.

In this state, when ice is made continuously, the block portion 251b can be pressed and deformed as shown in Fig. 34, and spherical ice can be made when ice making is completed.

A control unit (not shown) may determine whether ice making is complete based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 500.

The lower heater 296 may be turned off upon completion of ice making or before completion of ice making. When ice making is complete, the upper heater 148 is first turned on for ice separation. When the upper heater 148 is turned on, heat from the upper heater 148 is transferred to the upper tray 150 and thus ice may be separated from the surface (inner face) of the upper tray 150. After the upper heater 148 has been activated for a set time, the upper heater 148 may be turned off and then the drive unit 180 may be operated to rotate the lower assembly 200 in a forward direction.

As illustrated in Fig. 35, when the lower assembly 200 rotates forward, the lower tray 250 may be spaced from the upper tray 150.

Furthermore, the rotational force of the lower assembly 200 can be transmitted to the upper ejector 300 by the connecting unit 350. Therefore, the upper ejector 300 is lowered by the guide units 181 and 182, and the upper ejector pin 320 can be inserted into the upper chamber 152 through the upper opening 154.

In the ice transfer process, the ice may be separated from the upper tray 250 before the upper ejection pin 320 presses the ice. That is, the ice may be separated from the surface of the upper tray 150 by the heat of the upper heater 148.

In this case, the ice can rotate together with the lower assembly 200 in the state of being supported by the lower tray 250.

Alternatively, even if heat from the upper heater 148 is applied to the upper tray 150, the ice may not separate from the surface of the upper tray 150.

Therefore, when the lower assembly 200 rotates forward, the ice can be separated from the lower tray 250 in the state in which the ice is closely fixed to the upper tray 150.

In this state, while the lower assembly 200 rotates, the upper ejection pin 320 passing through the upper opening 154 can press the ice closely fixed to the upper tray 150 to separate the ice from the upper tray 150. The ice separated from the upper tray 150 can be supported again by the lower tray 250.

When the ice rotates together with the lower assembly 200 in the state in which the ice is supported by the lower tray 250, even if no external force is applied to the lower tray 250, the ice may be separated from the lower tray 250 by the lower tray 250's own weight.

As the lower assembly 200 rotates, although the ice does not separate from the lower tray 250 under its own weight, when the lower tray 250 is pressed by the lower ejector 400, the ice may separate from the lower tray 250.

In particular, as the lower assembly 200 rotates, the lower tray 250 may come into contact with the lower ejection pin 420.

When the lower assembly 200 continuously rotates forward, the lower ejection pin 420 may press the lower tray 250 to deform the lower tray 250, and the pressing force of the lower ejection pin 420 may be transmitted to the ice to separate the ice from the lower tray 250. The ice separated from the surface of the lower tray 250 may fall downward and be stored in the ice bin 102. The ice separation position may be referred to as the open position.

After the ice is separated from the lower tray 250, the lower assembly 200 may be rotated in the reverse direction by the drive unit 180.

When the lower ejection pin 420 is spaced from the lower tray 250 in a process in which the lower assembly 200 is rotated in the reverse direction, the deformed lower tray 250 can be restored to its original shape. That is, the deformed convex portion 251b can be restored to its original shape.

In the reverse rotation process of the lower assembly 200, the rotational force is transmitted to the upper ejector 300 by the connection unit 350, so that the upper ejector 300 is lifted and, therefore, the upper ejector pin 320 is moved away from the upper chamber 152.

When the lower assembly 200 reaches the water supply position, the drive unit 180 stops, and then the water supply starts again.

Claims (15)

1. An ice maker for a household appliance, in particular for a refrigerator or freezer, including: an upper assembly (110) including an upper tray (150) having at least one upper chamber (152) as a portion of an ice chamber (111); a lower assembly (200) including a lower support (270) and a lower tray (250) having at least one lower chamber (252) as a remaining portion of the ice chamber (111), wherein the lower assembly (200) is movable with respect to the upper assembly (110) between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position, the lower chamber (252) and the upper chamber (152) form the ice chamber (111) in which ice is to be formed, and characterized by The lower tray (250) has a convex portion (251b) protruding toward the lower chamber (252) and configured to deform toward the outside of the lower chamber (252) to compensate for the increase in volume during ice formation. 2. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the lower tray (150) is made of a flexible or deformable material and/or silicone. 3. The ice maker according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower support (270) covers more than half of an outer surface of the lower chamber (252) to stabilize a shape of the lower chamber (252). 4. The ice maker according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a lower opening (274) is formed in the lower support (270) corresponding to the lower chamber (252) and the convex portion (251b) is formed corresponding to the lower opening (274). 5. The ice maker according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a lower heater (296) is housed within a heater housing slot (291) adjacent the lower opening (174) to be in contact with the lower tray (250). 6. The ice maker of claim 4 or 5, wherein the lower opening (274) corresponds to a center point of an outer surface of the lower chamber (252). 7. The ice maker according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower tray (250) includes: a lower tray body (251) forming a wall of the lower chamber (252) and having an end surface (251 e) for contacting the upper tray (150) in the closed position of the lower assembly (200), and a circumferential wall (260) along a peripheral edge of the lower tray (250) and extending from the lower chamber (252). 8. The ice maker according to claim 7, wherein the upper tray (150) includes an upper tray body (151) forming a wall of the upper chamber (152) and having an end surface (151e) for contacting the end surface (251e) of the lower tray (250) in the closed position of the lower assembly (200), wherein in the closed position of the lower assembly (200), the upper tray body (151) is inserted into the circumferential wall (260) with the end surfaces (151e, 251e) being in contact with each other. 9. The ice maker according to claim 8, wherein in the closed position of the lower assembly (200), the upper tray body (151) is inserted into the circumferential wall (260) while being spaced therefrom by a predefined space to prevent water overflow. 10. The ice maker of claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein in the closed position of the lower assembly (200), the circumferential wall (260) extends toward the upper assembly (110). 11. The ice maker according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower assembly (200) is rotatable with respect to the upper assembly (110) around a horizontal rotation axis (C2). 12. The ice maker of claim 11, wherein the axis (C2) of rotation is within the same plane as an open surface of the upper chamber (152) and/or as an interface between the lower chamber (252) and the upper chamber (152) in the closed position. 13. The ice maker of claim 11 or 12, wherein the circumferential wall (260) of the lower tray (250) includes a first vertical wall portion (260a) and a second curved wall portion (260b) that bend away from the lower chamber with a center of curvature that is on the axis (C2) of rotation, the first vertical wall portion (260a) and the second curved wall portion (260b) being opposite each other. 14. The ice maker according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper chamber (252) has a hemispherical shape and the lower chamber (252) has a hemispherical shape except for the convex portion (251 b), to form spherical ice in the ice chamber (111). 15. A refrigerator, which includes: an ice maker according to any of the preceding claims.