Abstract: An ice maker includes an upper assembly provided with an upper tray which has an upper chamber recessed upwardly to define an upper side of an ice chamber in which water is filled to generate ice, a lower assembly provided with a lower tray which has a lower chamber recessed downwardly to define a lower side of the ice chamber, and a lower supporter which supports a lower side of the lower tray, in which the lower assembly is rotatably connected to the upper assembly. The ice maker also includes an upper ejector provided with an upper ejecting pin which separates ice from the upper tray after ice-making is completed, in which the upper ejector is connected to the lower assembly to be interlocked with each other, such that when the lower assembly is rotated, the upper ejector is lifted and lowered.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an upper assembly provided with an upper tray which has an upper chamber recessed upwardly to define an upper side of an ice chamber in which water is filled to generate ice, a lower assembly provided with a lower tray which has a lower chamber recessed downwardly to define a lower side of the ice chamber, and a lower supporter which supports a lower side of the lower tray, in which the lower assembly is rotatably connected to the upper assembly. The ice maker also includes an upper ejector provided with an upper ejecting pin which separates ice from the upper tray after ice-making is completed, in which the upper ejector is connected to the lower assembly to be interlocked with each other, such that when the lower assembly is rotated, the upper ejector is lifted and lowered.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a freezing compartment, an ice-maker disposed in the freezing compartment to make spherical ice, an ice bin disposed below the ice-maker for storing ice removed from the ice-maker, and an ice tray disposed inside the ice bin. At least a portion of a bottom face of the ice tray is spaced apart from a bottom face of the ice bin, and a plurality of tray holes are defined to pass through the bottom face of the ice tray.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigerator includes an ice making tray, a cooling system, a stirrer, at least a portion of which is submerged in the ice making tray, a stirring motor coupled to the stirrer, and a controller storing instructions and configured to execute the stored instructions to control the stirring motor to drive the stirrer while controlling the cooling system to cool water stored in the ice making tray. While the cooling system cools the water stored in the ice making tray, the stirrer stirs the water stored in the ice making tray.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ice maker, which can make ice with high transparency. The ice maker includes an ice making container configured to be filled with ice-making water; a heating ice-separator comprising a heating rod extended from above a water surface of the ice-making water into the ice making container so as to be immersed in the ice-making water and configured to transfer heat to the ice-making water, and a rotary shaft connecting with the heating rod, extended to traverse an upper portion of the ice making container, and configured to rotate the heating rod to be separated from the ice making container; and a heater configured to supply heat to the heating rod. By using the heater, the ice maker can not only make the ice with the high transparency, but also make ice-separation structure be simplified.

Abstract: A plane heater is a plane heater arranged in an ice tray of an ice machine including the ice tray having a partitioned space arranged therein to receive ice-making water, an ejector for separating ice within the ice tray, a motor which is arranged to face the ice tray and drives the ejector therein, and a control box having a printed circuit board formed therein. The plane heater includes a heat emitting body which is formed by a metal thin film and has a thickness thicker than 0 mm and equal to and thinner than 0.5 mm, a heat insulation member arranged to cover the heat emitting body, an electrode pad electrically connected to the heat emitting body, and a power source connection part including a support plate arranged below the electrode pad.

Abstract: An ice-making device in a refrigerator including water blocking walls configured to prevent water supplied to an ice tray from straying outside the ice tray. The ice-making device includes an upper frame and a lower frame. A water supply port is disposed in a rear wall of the upper frame and configured to supply water to an ice tray between the upper frame and the lower frame. An upper sidewall protrudes downward from the upper frame. A main water-blocking rib protrudes from the rear wall and configured to prevent water supplied from the water supply port from straying along the upper sidewall. An auxiliary water-blocking rib protrudes from the upper sidewall and can further prevent the water supplied from the water supply port from straying along the upper sidewall.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; an ice bucket for storing ice disposed in the ice compartment; and an air handler/auger motor assembly disposed at a rear portion of the ice compartment behind the ice bucket. The air handler/auger motor assembly includes an air passage having a fan disposed therein. An inlet of the fan communicates with an airflow passage under the ice maker tray/evaporator, such that the fan creates a suction and draws cool air from the ice maker tray/evaporator and discharges the cool air through the air passage and to the ice bucket to prevent any ice in the ice bucket from melting.

Abstract: A low-cost, contamination-free cutting tool, and an operation method and a use method thereof. The cutting tool comprises a molding container (1). The molding container (1) contains a to-be-refrigerated liquid (3) which can be refrigerated to form a solid cutter (4). The cutting tool may or may not comprise a base container (6). The base container (6) comprises a seal member (2) and the to-be-refrigerated liquid (3) in the base container. The to-be-refrigerated liquid in the base container is refrigerated to form a frozen base (7). The cutting tool of the present invention uses the cutter and the frozen base that are formed by using the low-cost to-be-refrigerated liquid; one-time use prevents the cross contamination, the cutter does not need to be washed; and the cutting tool has low use cost and good universality, and is convenient for popularization and application.

Abstract: [Task] To provide an automatic ice maker with improved corrosion resistance to prevent ice-making water and ice from being contaminated by a corrosion product such as rust, thereby enhancing the reliability of food sanitation. [Means for solution] The automatic ice maker produces ice having a required shape by supplying ice-making water in circulation to an ice compartment 10 that is cooled by a cooling pipe 48. The automatic ice maker has an electroless nickel-phosphorus plated coating 23 formed in a thickness of 15 ?m or more on an outermost layer of the ice compartment 10, which coating 23 contains a 10% to 15% phosphorus component.

Abstract: A system for producing clear ice uses sensor data on a freezing chamber condition to optimize production of clear ice. The sensor data provides information such as a clearness degree of ice, a freezing chamber temperature, and an ice maker temperature. The freezing chamber condition is predicated using the received sensor data. The freezing chamber condition is adjusted according to the received sensor data and the predicted freezing chamber condition.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator with an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice tray formed of a metal material, the ice tray providing an ice making space in which water for making an ice is supplied to make the ice and a resin layer formed of a plastic resin, the resin layer defining at least portion of the ice making space to smoothly convey the ice.

Abstract: An ice dispenser for a refrigerator is provided. The ice dispenser includes an ice storage container housing and an ice generator having a hollow mold which is filled with water. The ice storage container housing and the ice generator are combined into one modular unit.

Abstract: A refrigerator in which a refrigerant pipe assembly including a refrigerant pipe and a refrigerant pipe insulator coupled to the refrigerant pipe is inserted into an inner case in an inward direction from an outside of the inner case through an opening of the inner case. A portion of the refrigerant pipe insulator is disposed in the ice making chamber, and a remaining portion of the refrigerant pipe insulator is disposed between the inner case and the outer case. The refrigerant pipe insulator portion disposed between the inner case and the outer case is supported by a body insulator foamed between the inner case and the outer case. In accordance with this structure, it is possible not only to insulate the refrigerant pipe, but also to easily insert the refrigerant pipe into the ice making chamber and to keep the refrigerant pipe in a firmly-supported state.

Abstract: An ice making tray for an ice maker, an ice maker and a refrigerator comprising the same are provided. The ice maker is disposed on a door of a refrigerator. The ice making tray includes: a tray body provided with a plurality of ice forming chambers being downwardly concave, in which an opening for water flowing is formed between adjacent ice forming chambers; a water storage trough disposed on a front side of the tray body, and being higher than the plurality of ice forming chambers, in which the water storage trough is communicated with the plurality of ice forming chambers via at least one water returning mouth; and an enclosure wall, disposed around an upper end of the tray body.

Abstract: An ice maker is provided that varies an amount of heat transferred between an ice making member connected to a cooling unit and water being in direct or indirect contact with the ice making member according to portions of the ice making member, and producing ice in various forms including rounded ice without edges, especially spherical ice, on the ice making member, the ice maker including a cooling unit performing cooling; at least one ice making member connected to the cooling unit and being in direct or indirect contact with water to allow ice to be produced thereon; with an amount of heat transferred between the ice making member and the water being in direct or indirect contact with the ice making member varies according to portions of the ice making member, such that ice is produced in various forms on the ice making member.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for heating a subcompartment in a compartment of an appliance is disclosed. The heating apparatus includes an electromagnetic member disposed in the compartment, and a metal member thermally coupled to the subcompartment. The metal member is magnetically coupled to the electromagnetic member to generate an eddy current in the metal member in response to a magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic member for heating the subcompartment. A related heating method and a refrigerator incorporating such a heating apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a thawing device for improving the thawing rate by agitation of the contents in a bag. The thawing device includes a first heater and a second heater to heat a bag containing a frozen matter, and a supporting unit to support the bag. The first heater is supported at guide grooves to move back and forth, and descends by approaching the bag, and a component force in the travelling direction of the self weight acts as a biasing force. The second heater is supported via a supporting shaft, and a pressing force acts on the upper and the lower side of the bag alternately. Excessive pressing force acting on the bag is alleviated and a damage of the bag can be reduced when the second heater presses the bag even in a frozen state.

Abstract: An ice maker including a heating type ice-making tray capable of securing ice ejecting and a refrigerator including the ice maker are disclosed. According to a refrigerator including the ice maker, the ice may be securely ejected from the ice-making tray. As a result, reliability of ice ejecting may be improved. The water generated when the ice is ejected in the ice maker may be prevented from falling to an ice container efficiently.

Abstract: An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator the apparatus includes an ice maker, an ice container to collect ice made by the ice maker, and an ice detecting sensor to detect an amount of ice stored in the ice container. The ice detecting sensor has a transmitter module provided on one side of the ice maker and a receiver module provided on another side of the ice maker. The transmitter module is separated by a prescribed distance from the receiver module. At least one of the transmitter module or receiver module includes at least one optical element and at least one heater, and the heater is made of an electroconductive heating material.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice maker including a mold body defining a one or more compartments for forming ice cubes therein, a harvesting assembly removes an ice cube from the compartment, and one or more bimetallic elements. Each bimetallic element is configured with a respective one of the compartments so that when energized the bimetallic element deforms with a portion moving in a direction so as to assist in removing an ice cube from the compartment. Related refrigeration appliances are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ice cube maker includes an ice-making compartment having side walls, at least one rod-shaped conductor extending distally into the compartment through one of the side walls, and a cooling device for cooling the conductor to a temperature sufficient to form ice on the conductor. A misting system includes a reservoir for water and a nebulizer for creating a liquid mist from water in the reservoir and introducing the liquid mist into the ice-making compartment so that a portion of the liquid mist freezes on the conductor to form a cup-shaped ice cube thereon. A return conduit connects a drain of the ice-making compartment and the reservoir for transferring liquid mist not freezing on the conductor to the reservoir.

Abstract: An ice maker comprises: an ice-making vessel having a cylindrical shape, cooling means, a block ice making mold which is placed inside; and a screw type agitator. The block ice making mold includes: a main mold body comprising a plurality of connected L-shaped plates projected radially outward from the central axis; a base plate which is joined to each L-shaped plate, and the main mold body includes a screw insertion part which is formed by cutting off another end side of the central axis by a predetermined length along a side of the central axis from the another end side toward the one end side of the central axis.

Abstract: An icemaker includes an ice tray configured to receive water, an ejector configured to rotate to eject ice made in the ice tray, and a heater arranged to contact the ice tray and configured to facilitate separation of ice from the ice tray by selectively heating the ice tray. The icemaker also includes a case mounted to a side of the ice tray and a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor mounted in the case and configured to selectively rotate the ejector in forward and reverse directions.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an upper tray that includes a plurality of upper cells that each have a hemispherical shape and an ice making tube disposed at outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to cool each of the upper cells. The ice maker also includes a lower tray that includes a plurality of lower cells that each have a hemispherical shape. The lower tray is rotatably connected to the upper tray. The ice maker further includes a rotation shaft connected to a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray, and configured to rotate the lower tray with respect to the upper tray.

Abstract: An icemaker in a refrigerator is disclosed, by which heat generated from a heater to detach ice is prevented from being transferred to an inside of the refrigerator. The present invention includes an icemaker body provided to a prescribed position of the refrigerator to make to ice from a supplied water, a heater provided to the icemaker body to generate heat to facilitate detachment of the made ice, and a heater shielding unit provided to prevent the heat generated from the heater from being supplied to an inside of the refrigerator.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mold body with at least one cavity configured and dimensioned to receive water to be frozen into ice; a hollow sealed tube having an evaporator portion in thermal communication with the mold body and an offset condenser portion opposite the evaporator portion; a two-phase heat transfer fluid contained within the hollow sealed tube; and an actuation arrangement which causes the mold body and the tube to transition between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the water can be introduced into the at least one cavity and the offset condenser portion is above the evaporator portion. In the second position, the ice can be discharged from the at least one cavity and the offset condenser portion is below the evaporator portion. A refrigerator using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is an ice maker that includes a mold including a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces, a driver operatively connected to the mold for adjusting a position of the mold to a plurality of different locations during an ice making cycle, and a controller. A limit switch is located at a plurality of different positions along a range of travel of the mold to be actuated and transmit a signal indicative of the mold's arrival at the different locations. The mold can travel along path including first portion having a first axis of rotation and a substantially vertical portion, and can be driven by a motor with a drive shaft rotatable about a single axis of rotation. The motor can drive both the mold and a bail arm, and the mold can be leveled upon reaching a predetermined location. The ice maker can perform a Dry Cycle in response to detecting an anomaly during ice making.

Abstract: Provided is an ice maker including a mold with two or more cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A bracket defines a track establishing a range of travel of the mold during an ice making cycle and a removable pin projects outwardly from the mold, extending into the track defined by the bracket to support the mold within the ice maker. The mold can be provided with a partition separating the cavities, the partition including an aperture for establishing a substantially-even water level in the cavities below the partitions.

Abstract: A system for making ice comprises an auger-driven ice formation portion configured for mounting in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator appliance, and at least one inlet duct positioned proximate to the auger-driven ice formation portion and configured for receiving and passing ambient air from a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance into the auger-driven ice formation portion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ice maker systems are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises the steps of: heating an ice mold body to separate ice formed in the ice mold body from the ice mold body; releasing the separated ice from the ice mold body; and contacting at least a portion of the ice mold body with a heat transfer fluid to cool the ice mold body.

Abstract: An ice maker of a domestic refrigerator that includes an ice mold having an electrically-conductive polymeric body and a plurality of cavities defined in the polymeric body. Each cavity is sized to receive a quantity of fluid corresponding to a single ice cube. A pair of electrodes is engaged with a bottom surface of the polymeric body. The polymeric body has a first electrical conductivity at a first operating temperature and a second electrical conductivity that is less than the first electrical conductivity at a second operating temperature. The second operating temperature is greater than the first operating temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment, a storage compartment door for opening/closing the storage compartment, and an ice maker including an ice making tray for producing pieces of ice, and a water dispense cup for dispensing water supplied from a water supply pipe to the ice making tray. A water guide section is formed in the water dispense cup to guide the water, which is supplied from the water supply pipe, to a region below the water supply pipe so that ice pieces are prevented from being accumulated in the water dispense cup.

Abstract: A method of controlling an ice maker is provided that minimizes generation of excess water and reduces energy consumption. The method allows for uniform heat to be generated and distributed throughout the ice tray during an ice separation process. Consequently, the ice separating process may be consistently performed irrespective of the shape of the ice tray and its surroundings, thereby minimizing generation of excess water, and reducing energy consumption.

Abstract: Disclosed is an icemaker for a refrigerator, comprising: a tray for containing water to make the water into ice pieces having a predetermined shape; a water supply unit installed at one side of the tray, for supplying water to the tray; a drive unit installed to face the water supply unit with the tray being interposed therebetween; an ice separating lever rotatably assembled between the drive unit and the water supply unit to be rotated by a motor installed in the drive unit; and an ice separating heater for applying heat to the tray so that ice pieces are separated from the tray. The drive unit includes a drive unit housing, a driving motor having a driving gear, a slave gear having a rotary cam and a first magnet and coupled to a rotary shaft of the ice separating lever, a cantilever having a second magnet and rotated by the rotary cam, and first and second Hall elements corresponding to the first and second magnets, respectively.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator with an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice tray formed of a metal material, the ice tray providing an ice making space in which water for making an ice is supplied to make the ice and a resin layer formed of a plastic resin, the resin layer defining at least portion of the ice making space to smoothly convey the ice.

Abstract: A system and method for making ice is provided. The system may include a tray for containing a water to be used for making ice, and a refrigerant pipe positioned so that at least a portion thereof is submerged in the water contained in the tray. A refrigerant of relatively low temperature flows through the refrigerant pipe to cause ice to be formed on surfaces thereof. A heater may be provided on the refrigerant pipe and operated during an ice-releasing process. This system and method may eliminate the need for an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker, thus simplifying a manufacturing process and reducing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A system and method for making ice is provided. The system for making ice may include a tray for containing water to be used for making ice, and an ice-making pipe positioned so that at least a portion thereof is submerged in the water contained in the tray. A refrigerant of relatively low temperature flows through the ice-making pipe during an ice-making process, while a refrigerant of relatively high temperature flows through the ice-making pipe during an ice-releasing process.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance with a hot water dispenser includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispenser area an input device for a user to indicate and control desired dispensing functions. The input device may require the user to perform two actions to dispense hot water: a first action to indicate one or more desired hot water parameters and a second action to dispense the hot water. A controller may reduce current draw in the appliance when water is heated, or may employ an energy storage device for heating.

Abstract: An ice-making device for a refrigerator, which is designed to separate ice through a simple process is provided. The ice-making device for a refrigerator includes an ice tray defining an ice-making space, an ice core member that is partly received in the ice-making space to make ice at an end thereof, a driving unit moving and rotating at least one of the ice tray and the ice core member, and a power transmission unit for transferring power from the driving unit to the ice core member. The ice on the ice core member starts being separated in a state where the ice is spaced apart from an outer surface of the ice tray.

Abstract: An ice-making device designed to make and separate ice from an ice tray through a simple process is provided. The ice-making device includes an ice tray defining an ice-making space, a freezing core that is partly received in the ice-making space to make ice at an end thereof, a driving unit moving and rotating the freezing core, and a power transmission unit for transferring power from the driving unit to the freezing core. The power transmission unit including a cam unit rotatably connected to the driving unit and a moving member that moves in vertical and rotational direction by a driving force of a motor transferred by the cam unit.

Abstract: An icemaker and a refrigerator having an icemaker are discussed. The icemaker has pulse-electrothermal ice release and includes an ice-making tray having several ice forming portions in which water is stored and ice is formed; and a housing surrounding the ice-making tray provided with at least one cold air inlet and/or ice ejection port through which cold air is supplied and ice released along a bent channel. The cold air inlet and/or ice ejection ports are baffled to prevent contact with a user's fingers and thereby reduce the possibility of electric shock.

Abstract: An ice maker for a domestic appliance comprises an ice tray, a water feed line which can be used to fill the ice tray with water, a water filter which is arranged in the water feed line such that it can be replaced, and a monitoring unit for calculating a value which is representative of the degree of wear of the filter. The monitoring unit has means for changing the representative value by a first fixed step width each time the ice tray is filled.

Abstract: Ice maker including an ice making container (100) having a plurality of cavities (120) for forming ice, a heater body (210) on one side of the ice making container for selective generation of heat, and heating bars (220) each extended from the heater body to the cavity by a predetermined length with a profile in conformity with a bottom surface profile of the cavity (120) with a gap to the bottom surface such that the heating bar (220) is submerged under water in the cavity for causing a temperature gradient during ice making.

Abstract: Provided is an ice maker. The ice maker includes an upper tray including a plurality of first recessed parts, each having a hemispherical shape, and a lower tray including a plurality of second recessed parts, each having a hemispherical shape. The ice maker also includes a driving unit that moves at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray to change between an attached orientation in which the upper tray is attached to the lower tray to define a plurality of spherical shells and a separated orientation in which the upper tray is separated from the lower tray. The ice maker further includes a water supply part configured to supply water into the shells and an ejecting unit disposed outside the shells and configured to facilitate separation of ice pieces made in the shells.

Abstract: Provided is an ice maker. The ice maker includes a tray member comprising an upper tray having an upper shell and a lower tray having a lower shell. The ice maker also includes a driving unit disposed on a side of the tray member and configured to linearly move, in a vertical direction, at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray to change between an attached orientation in which the upper shell is attached to the lower shell to define a spherical shell and a separated orientation in which the upper shell is separated from the lower shell. The ice maker further includes an ejecting unit that is disposed on a side of the tray member and that is configured to facilitate separation of an ice piece made in the spherical shell from at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ice maker, a refrigerator having the ice maker, and a method for supplying ice of the refrigerator. An ice making container long in a vertical direction is installed on a side wall surface of a refrigerator door, makes ice, and pushes up the ice by screws to release the ice, whereby the size of the ice maker can be reduced, the area occupied by the ice maker can be reduced, and a refrigerator having the ice maker can become slimmer. Also, because an installation height of the ice maker is lowered to shorten a cold air supply path and prevent a loss in the process of supplying cold air to the ice making chamber. Also, because a cutting operation is performed simultaneously when the ice is lifted, a fabrication cost can be reduced and a defective state due to malfunction can be prevented.

Abstract: An ice making assembly for a refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker having a mold body defining a plurality of compartments for forming ice cubes therein, a heating element for heating the ice cubes to create a melted portion to assist in removal of the ice cubes from the compartment, and a harvesting assembly including a plurality of elements attached to a rotatable rod. Each element is movable via rotation of the rod through a respective one of the compartments to remove an ice cube from the compartment. Rotation of the rod stopping for a period of time at a stop position in which a removed ice cube can rest atop the harvesting assembly to refreeze the melted portion. Related refrigeration appliances are also disclosed.

Abstract: Ice making assembly for a refrigerator and a method for controlling the ice making assembly. The ice making assembly and method capable of more effectively providing transparent ice. The ice making assembly and method also capable of preventing water overflow.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice maker including a mold body defining a one or more compartments for forming ice cubes therein, a harvesting assembly removes an ice cube from the compartment, and one or more bimetallic elements. Each bimetallic element is configured with a respective one of the compartments so that when energized the bimetallic element deforms with a portion moving in a direction so as to assist in removing an ice cube from the compartment. Related refrigeration appliances are also disclosed.