Abstract: Disclosed is a system of controlling an ice maker. The system includes: an ice making part producing ice; a water reservoir provided with a pump, and storing water supplied from outside and providing the water supplied from outside to the ice making part or draining the water outside; and a controller. In particular, when an accumulated number of ice making cycles of the ice making part reaches a predetermined number of ice making cycles, the controller drains the water stored in the water reservoir, and controls a drainage time during which the water is drained on the basis of the predetermined number of ice making cycles, such that the water stored in the water reservoir is drained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system of controlling an ice maker. The system includes: an ice making part producing ice; an ice reservoir storing the ice; a water reservoir storing water supplied from outside and providing the water to the ice making part or draining the water; and a controller, when a full state of the ice reservoir is sensed after an ice separation process of separating the ice produced in the ice making part is completed, stopping operation of the ice making part and allowing a first drainage of the water stored in the water reservoir to a predetermined water level and a second drainage of the stored water for a predetermined additional drainage time. In particular, the controller controls the additional drainage time desired for the second drainage by comparing an actual drainage time desired for the first drainage with a preset normal time.

Abstract: Disclosed is an evaporator for an ice maker including: a refrigerant pipe having a circular cross-section, with refrigerant flowing therethrough; and a pair of ice making plates disposed on opposite sides of the refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant pipe is disposed between inner side surfaces of the ice making plates facing each other, and rounded parts are provided by being formed outwards at a place where the refrigerant pipe is located such that the rounded parts cover both sides of the refrigerant pipe by being in close contact therewith.

Abstract: A system of controlling an ice maker. The system includes: an ice making part producing ice; a water reservoir to store water supplied from outside and provide the water to the ice making part or drain the water; and a controller to control the ice making part to perform an ice separation process, supply the water to the water reservoir during an ice separation time, and drain the water in the water reservoir when an accumulated number of ice making cycles of the ice making part reaches a predetermined number of ice making cycles. In particular, when the accumulated number of ice making cycles reaches the predetermined number of ice making cycles and the water in the water reservoir is drained, the controller increases the ice separation time, drains the water in the water reservoir for the increased ice separation time, and re-supplies the water to the water reservoir after draining the water.

Abstract: There is provided a method for diagnosing an ice-making apparatus, wherein the ice-making apparatus includes a control unit and a display unit, wherein the method comprises: determining, by the control unit, whether a diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied or not; upon determination that the diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied, counting, by the control unit, an actual number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus; and displaying the counted number on the display unit by the control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system of controlling an ice maker. The system includes: an ice making part producing ice; an ice reservoir storing the ice; a water reservoir storing water supplied from outside and providing the water to the ice making part or draining the water; and a controller, when a full state of the ice reservoir is sensed after an ice separation process of separating the ice produced in the ice making part is completed, stopping operation of the ice making part and allowing a first drainage of the water stored in the water reservoir to a predetermined water level and a second drainage of the stored water for a predetermined additional drainage time. In particular, the controller controls the additional drainage time desired for the second drainage by comparing an actual drainage time desired for the first drainage with a preset normal time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system of controlling an ice maker. The system includes: an ice making part producing ice; a water reservoir provided with a pump, and storing water supplied from outside and providing the water supplied from outside to the ice making part or draining the water outside; and a controller. In particular, when an accumulated number of ice making cycles of the ice making part reaches a predetermined number of ice making cycles, the controller drains the water stored in the water reservoir, and controls a drainage time during which the water is drained on the basis of the predetermined number of ice making cycles, such that the water stored in the water reservoir is drained.

Abstract: A system of controlling an ice maker. The system includes: an ice making part producing ice; a water reservoir to store water supplied from outside and provide the water to the ice making part or drain the water; and a controller to control the ice making part to perform an ice separation process, supply the water to the water reservoir during an ice separation time, and drain the water in the water reservoir when an accumulated number of ice making cycles of the ice making part reaches a predetermined number of ice making cycles. In particular, when the accumulated number of ice making cycles reaches the predetermined number of ice making cycles and the water in the water reservoir is drained, the controller increases the ice separation time, drains the water in the water reservoir for the increased ice separation time, and re-supplies the water to the water reservoir after draining the water.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a splash screen apparatus for an ice maker that includes an ice making portion for making ice, a water/ice separating portion separating water and ice dropped from the ice making portion, and an ice storage unit connected with the water/ice separating portion through a chute. The ice storage unit stores ice separated by the water/ice separating portion. The apparatus further includes a screen disposed above the chute and ice separated by the water/ice separating portion is passed into the ice storage unit and water is stopped from being introduced into the ice storage unit.

Abstract: There is provided an ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure, wherein the apparatus includes: a housing having an ice-storage chamber defined therein; a pivotally-movable door having an elongate top end, wherein an elongate clearance is defined between an elongate top end of the door and a front wall of the housing; an elongate contaminant-guide plate disposed below the elongate clearance, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate has opposing first and second side ends, and the housing has opposing first and second side walls, wherein the opposing first and/or second side ends are disposed at or adjacent to the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively; and first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes defined in the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate is constructed to receive contaminants falling down from the elongate clearance and to guide the contaminants toward the first and/or second contaminant-discharge

Abstract: There is provided a method for diagnosing an ice-making apparatus, wherein the ice-making apparatus includes a control unit and a display unit, wherein the method comprises: determining, by the control unit, whether a diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied or not; upon determination that the diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied, counting, by the control unit, an actual number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus; and displaying the counted number on the display unit by the control unit.

Abstract: An ice maker including piping for water drainage therein is provided. The ice maker includes a cabinet body, an ice storage portion provided in the cabinet body and separable from the cabinet body, a first coupling portion disposed on a lower surface of the ice storage portion and having a first coupling hole, a drain portion provided downwardly of the cabinet body within the cabinet body and including a drainage passage connected to an external drainage hole, and an overflow socket inserted into the first coupling hole and connected to the drainage passage to connect the ice storage portion to the drain portion, and configuring a path allowing water received by the ice storage portion to be discharged to the drainage passage, thereby providing an ice maker having easy separation and coupling.

Abstract: There is provided an ice maker. The ice maker includes: a freezing plate configured to be cooled by an evaporator to freeze water flowing thereon; a water tub disposed below the freezing plate to collect water falling from the freezing plate; an ice bin forming an ice storage space around the water tub to collect ice falling from the freezing plate; and a plate-shaped ice storage guide placed on an upper end of the water tub between the freezing plate and the water tub, the ice storage guide including a sloped part inclined toward the ice bin and a plurality of discharge holes narrower than widths of ice cubes formed by the freezing plate. Parts of the ice maker are simple and can be easily cleaned, and thus the ice maker may be hygienically used.

Abstract: There is provided an ice maker reliably performing a reliable ice separating operation. The ice maker includes: an evaporator; an ice making plate disposed vertically and making contact with the evaporator at a rear side thereof, the ice maker including a plurality of ice forming parts formed by dividing a front side thereof, surfaces of the ice forming parts being sloped to face downwards; a water tub disposed below the ice making plate to collect water falling from the ice making plate; and an ice bin forming an ice storage space around the water tub to collect ice falling from the ice making plate. Since the ice making plate has a sloped structure, ice may be reliably separated from the ice making plate, and the quality of ice may be improved.

Abstract: There is provided a float valve. The float valve includes: a frame; a water supply part fixed to the frame and including a water supply nozzle through which water is discharged; a vertical bar fixedly coupled to the frame and extending downwardly below the water supply unit; a float connected to the vertical bar and vertically movable along the vertical bar; a switching unit connected to the float and configured to open or close the water supply nozzle while being moved vertically according to vertical movement of the float; and a water level sensor disposed on the vertical bar to detect a position of the float. Since the water level senor is integrated in the float valve, the inside space of a product using the float valve may be efficiently used, and parts of the product may be simply assembled.

Abstract: A door hinge unit in a refrigerator which pivots a door on a refrigerator body, and holds the door to maintain an opened state or a maximum opened state at a predetermined position for preventing the door from hitting an external object and a hinge shaft from breaking, and minimizes a friction surface between a male member and a female member of the hinge for making movement of the hinge smooth and preventing the hinge from causing noise.

Abstract: A door hinge unit in a refrigerator which pivots a door on a refrigerator body, and holds the door to maintain an opened state or a maximum opened state at a predetermined position for preventing the door from hitting an external object and a hinge shaft from breaking, and minimizes a friction surface between a male member and a female member of the hinge for making movement of the hinge smooth and preventing the hinge from causing noise.