Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage chamber, a cold air supply which supplies cold air to the storage chamber, a first tray which forms a part of an ice making cell that is a space where water is phase-changed into ice by the cold air, a second tray which forms another part of the ice making cell and which may come into contact with the first tray during an ice making process and may be separated from the first tray during an ice transfer process, a heater adjacent to at least one of the first tray or the second tray, a sensor which determines the position of the second tray in a movement process of the second tray, and a control unit which controls the heater.

Abstract: An ice making system includes: a refrigerant circuit that performs a vapor compression refrigeration cycle and that includes a compressor, a condenser that condenses refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a first expansion valve with an adjustable opening degree that decompresses the refrigerant from the condenser, a flooded evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the first expansion valve, and a superheater that imparts a degree of superheating to the refrigerant discharged from the flooded evaporator; a circulation circuit that circulates a medium that is cooled by the flooded evaporator; and a control device that controls the adjustable opening degree of the first expansion valve such that the superheater imparts to the refrigerant discharged from the flooded evaporator a degree of superheating at which dryness of the refrigerant is kept within a predetermined range of less than 1.

Abstract: A method of controlling a refrigerator includes detecting opening/closing of an ice dispensing duct, through which ice is taken out, and storing an opening time of the ice dispensing duct per time interval. Each time interval is classified as a use time when the opening time of the ice dispensing duct is equal to or greater than a reference time and each time interval is classified as a non-use time when the opening time of the ice dispensing duct is less than the reference time.

Abstract: An icemaker according to present invention may comprise: a device body having an inflow penetration portion and a discharge penetration portion formed therein; a flow portion having an inflow opening and a discharge opening provided to penetrate the inflow penetration portion and the discharge penetration directly or indirectly, respectively, and having a flow space formed therein so as to connect with the inflow opening and the discharge opening; a cooling portion configured such that a refrigerant flows to at least a part of the periphery of the flow portion, thereby cooling water, which is introduced into the flow space through the inflow opening and flows therein, and turning the same into ice or cold water; and a separating/transferring portion for separating the ice, which has been generated in the flow space, from the flow space and transferring the same to the discharge opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for preserving bulk ice that includes a compartment for drying and storing ice, and a shaft for attaching an ice drying receptacle to the drying and storage compartment is disclosed. The shaft is actuated by a motor having two directions of rotation. The motor is adapted to cause the shaft and ice drying receptacle to rotate in two directions. The action of the motor, and therefore the rotation of the shaft and the ice drying receptacle, are controlled based in part on information received from one or more sensors. The compartment also has a tray with a drain for collecting and removing waste. The tray includes a resistor for melting the remains of the drying process.

Abstract: An ice supplying apparatus includes: an ice bank configured to store therein ice made by an ice maker; a blade unit having a fixed blade, and a rotary blade formed to be relatively-rotatable with respect to the fixed blade, the rotary blade configured to crush ice when rotated in one direction; and a discharge guide unit provided below the blade unit, and configured to discharge the crushed ice, wherein a scattering preventing unit having a different inclination, in a gravitational direction of the earth, from another side of the discharge guide unit is formed at one side of the discharge guide unit, so as to prevent scattering of the crushed ice when the crushed ice is taken out.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a secondary cooling path for circulating liquid coolant through the refrigerator wherein the liquid coolant is cooled by the freezer compartment and wherein the liquid coolant cools the ice maker and the ice bin as the liquid coolant circulates through the secondary cooling path. A pump is positioned along the secondary cooling path for pumping the liquid coolant through the secondary cooling path. A tube having a first end proximate the pump and an opposite end exposed to atmosphere may control suction pressure associated with the pump. The refrigerator reduces frost build up through configuration of the secondary cooling path or performing ice harvesting operations which melt frost. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating hot liquid. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating liquid coolant during a power outage.

Abstract: An ice making tray has a water basin with a thermally conductive floor and a flexible grid positioned therein to define a plurality of ice making compartments. A motor is coupled to the basin to rotate the basin and grid to an inverted position, and a link is coupled between the motor and drive such that the grid is rotatable out of the basin and is flexed to release ice cubes formed therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing ice that includes a housing with heat insulation characteristics and a storage space; an ice maker in the housing, which includes an ice tray; an ice bin arranged below the ice maker; a transfer member arranged within the ice bin to discharge ice to the outside of the ice bin; a refrigerating cycle that extends into the housing, and which includes an evaporation unit attached to the outer surface of the ice tray; and a control unit which controls the operation of the refrigerating cycle and of the transfer member. Air in the storage space is cooled by being in contact with the evaporation unit and/or the ice tray, and the control unit operates the refrigerating cycle to cool the storage space when the temperature of the ice tray and/or of the evaporation unit is higher than a preset temperature.

Abstract: A frosty swirl machine includes a housing, a funnel, an auger for swirling ice-cream with other additives to become a mixture, a driving unit, and a protective cap. The protective cap has a passage opening movably mounted at a mixture outlet of the funnel, in such a manner that the protective cap is capable of moving between a opened position and a closed position, wherein in the opened position, the protective cap is moved to align the passage opening with the mixture outlet of the funnel so as to allow the mixture to pour out of the funnel through the mixture outlet and the passage opening, wherein in the closed position, the protective cap is moved to block the mixture outlet so as to prevent the mixture from being poured out of the funnel.

Abstract: An ice making module includes a conductive ice tray having a bottom surface and a barrier coating on at least a portion of the conductive ice tray. An electrical circuit in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray includes a power source and a capacitor. A switch is configured to move between a charging position, wherein the capacitor stores an electrical charge, and a pulse position, wherein the capacitor releases the electrical charge. A conductive material disposed proximate the conductive ice tray is in selective electromagnetic communication with the conductive ice tray. The electrical charge released by the capacitor generates an induced electrical current through the conductive material and a repelling electromagnetic force between the conductive ice tray and the conductive material. A water dispensing mechanism disposes water into the conductive ice tray. A cooling apparatus decrease the temperature of the water in the conductive ice tray.

Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A system to make ice includes a refrigeration unit and an icemaker disposed in the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is configured to be subjected to a refrigeration cycle; the icemaker is configured to be subjected to a freeze cycle; and the system is configured such that the freeze cycle is synchronized with the refrigeration cycle, asynchronized with the refrigeration cycle, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. A process for controlling an icemaker includes providing a freeze cycle to an icemaker; providing a refrigeration cycle to a refrigeration unit; and constraining the freeze cycle and the refrigeration cycle to control the icemaker.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fast ice making device for quickly producing ice cubes. The fast ice making device includes a mold body having a plurality of ice forming cavities adapted to hold fluid. In an ice making cycle, a vacuum system evacuates air from the cavities, thereby depressurizing the cavities. Then, a liquid delivery system delivers liquid to the depressurized cavities, whereby an initial portion of the liquid bubbles up within the respective cavities. Overall, a cooler fluid is established at the beginning of an ice making cycle, thus accelerating the rate at which ice cubes are formed within the fast ice making device. Once ice cubes have been formed within the cavities, a heat transfer system is utilized to heat the cavities, thereby slightly melting the ice cubes and aiding in the expulsion of ice cubes from the cavities.

Abstract: An ice bank for a refrigerator, comprises: an ice bank body having an ice-crushing unit and a discharging passage; and a mode conversion apparatus disposed in the ice bank body for guiding ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit, or guiding the ice cubes to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-crushed state, wherein the mode conversion apparatus comprises: a guide member rotatably disposed in the ice bank body for guiding ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit, or to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-crushed state; an elastic member for elastically supporting the guide member; and a driving unit for generating a driving force so as to rotate the guide member. Accordingly, ice cubes can be dispensed in a non-crushed state or in a crushed state, and limitations in installation places of the ice bank can be reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an icemaker assembly to prevent premature ice harvests is provided. In particular implementations, normal icemaker operations, including ice cube harvesting, can be suspended when an ice cube level in an ice cube storage bin is detected to exceed a predetermined threshold or when a command is received to prevent harvesting. When a command to prevent harvesting is received, communication from an ice cube storage bin sensor can be disconnected, for instance, after a current harvesting cycle is complete. The communication from the ice cube storage bin sensor can be reconnected following a time interval or after receiving a command to re-start the normal operations.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus for an appliance comprising an ice making tray having at least one specialty feature chosen from the group consisting of: a convex bottom surface, a ledge disposed about a perimeter of the at least one ice compartment and proximate a bottom portion of the at least one ice compartment, at least one thread extending from one corner of the at least one ice compartment to another corner of the at least one ice compartment, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An ice making module includes a conductive ice tray having a bottom surface and a barrier coating on at least a portion of the conductive ice tray. An electrical circuit in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray includes a power source and a capacitor. A switch is configured to move between a charging position, wherein the capacitor stores an electrical charge, and a pulse position, wherein the capacitor releases the electrical charge. A conductive material disposed proximate the conductive ice tray is in selective electromagnetic communication with the conductive ice tray. The electrical charge released by the capacitor generates an induced electrical current through the conductive material and a repelling electromagnetic force between the conductive ice tray and the conductive material. A water dispensing mechanism disposes water into the conductive ice tray. A cooling apparatus decrease the temperature of the water in the conductive ice tray.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method for operating the same are provided. The refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker for producing ice. The ice maker is deactivated for a predetermined period of time after the ice maker has been filled with liquid water. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the ice maker can harvest ice if a demand side management (DSM) status is off-peak, or the ice maker can remain deactivated if the DSM status is on-peak. By operating in such a manner, operating costs of the refrigerator appliance can be reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for systems, apparatus, and methods for making ice. According to some embodiments, a refrigerant tube is disposed within an ice formation cell. The ice formation cell receives a water stream, and the portion of the water stream makes direct contact with the refrigerant tube is frozen by the refrigerant tube. Thus, an ice piece is generated.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a freezer segment for a freezer of the type used for casting confectionery in molds which are cooled for freezing and subsequently supplied with heat for a short period, whereafter stripping occurs. Cooling of the molds is effected by using direct evaporation of CO2. The advantage of such a freezer segment is that there is no use for both a primary and a secondary cooling circuit. Another advantage in using a system according to the invention is that working with temperatures down to about minus 50° C. is enabled, compared to about minus 40° C. with brine systems. The low freezing temperature entails that the capacity of a given system is increased by about 40%.

Abstract: A method of making clear ice spheres includes a providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion and a second mold portion having mold cavity segments which define one or more mold cavities when the mold apparatus is assembled in an ice forming position. The mold apparatus is then cooled using a cooling source in thermal communication with the first mold portion. Water is then injected into the mold cavities, such that a portion of the water injected into the mold cavities is solidified in a directional manner from the first mold portion to the second mold portion to create a clear ice structure. Water is continuously circulated within the mold cavities to ensure clear ice is formed by injecting and simultaneously ejecting water from the mold cavities during ice formation. The ice clear structures are then released from the mold apparatus by disassembling the mold apparatus.

Abstract: An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece.

Abstract: A method of making an ice structure comprising the steps of: providing a mold with at least two mold portions where the at least two mold portions come together to form a cavity that defines a shape of an ice structure; placing the at least two mold portions in thermal communication with at least one cooling source; chilling the at least two mold portions using the at least one cooling source; orienting the at least two mold portions in spaced apart relation; delivering a flow of water such that the flow of water passes along the surface of the at least two mold portions with the mold segments such that water flows (by capillary/wicking action) over the mold segment and forms an ice structure segment; ceasing the flow of water when the ice structure segments are formed; and fusing the ice structure segments together to form the ice structure.

Abstract: A method of making clear ice spheres includes a providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion and a second mold portion having mold cavity segments which define one or more mold cavities when the mold apparatus is assembled. A clear ice sheet is deposited in the mold apparatus in a channel defined by the spaced apart mold portions when the mold apparatus is in an open position. The mold apparatus is assembled about the sheet of clear ice such that the clear ice sheet is shaped to form one or more clear ice structures in the mold cavities.

Abstract: A method of making clear ice spheres includes a providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion and a second mold portion having mold cavity segments which define one or more mold cavities when the mold apparatus is assembled in an ice forming position. The mold apparatus includes a water jacketing system which is adapted to keep water in continuous circulation within the mold cavities to ensure clear ice is formed. Water is injected into the mold cavities and where a portion of the water is frozen to form a clear ice structure and a portion of the water enters the water jacketing system. Water may remain circulating in the water jacketing system, or may be expelled from the mold apparatus. The circulating water of the water jacketing system facilitates directional solidification of clear ice structure across a thermal gradient of the mold apparatus.

Abstract: A refrigerator has an icemaker that includes a partition arm extending from the outside of the ice making tray into the ice making tray, the partition arm constituting a part of an ice compartment structure to define ice making cells. When the ice making tray is rotated in a given direction, the ice making tray allows ice to be separated from the ice making cells by being twisted by the partition arm. When the ice making tray is rotated in an opposite direction, the ice making tray allows the ice still present in the ice making cells to fall from the ice making cells by interference with a rotation stopper formed at the partition arm.

Abstract: An ice support and storage tray includes one or more cavities having upwardly facing spherical surface portions that support spherical pieces of ice. The tray is preferably made of a material having a low thermal conductivity to reduce melting of the spherical pieces of ice. The spherical support surfaces minimize melting points that could otherwise cause the spherical pieces of ice to melt and develop irregular surface shapes. The ice tray may be used in a freezer having an ice maker that transports spheres of ice to the ice support cavities. The ice storage tray may be configured to permit removal of spheres of ice without tipping the tray upside down and/or twisting/deforming the tray.

Abstract: A household refrigerator includes an ice maker. The ice maker has an ice mold. The ice mold is made from a thin flexible material, such as stamped aluminum. The ice mold includes ice forming compartments and a rotatable member with fingers for removing ice pieces from the ice compartments as the rotatable member is rotated. The rotatable member also includes a cam projection that contacts and flexes the ice mold as the rotatable member is rotated to at least partially break a bond between the ice pieces and the ice forming compartments.

Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber with a dispensing valve connected to the product chamber and having an outlet through which a product contained in the product chamber is dispensed. The product chamber has a cleaning solution inlet connectable to a cleaning solution supply source for receiving cleaning solution into the product chamber. The product chamber further has an ingredient inlet alternatively connectable to either an ingredient supply source or the dispensing valve outlet. When the ingredient inlet is connected to the dispensing valve outlet, a re-circulating flow path is created, allowing for complete cleaning and sanitizing of the product flow path.

Abstract: A refrigerator may include a refrigerator cabinet and at least one compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker for making wet ice disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a bucket for storing the ice, the bucket positioned to receive the wet ice from the ice maker, and a drain in the bucket for draining water from the bucket. A method of making ice in a refrigerator includes making ice using an ice maker of the refrigerator, conveying the ice from the ice maker to a bucket having a drain, maintaining the ice in the bucket at a temperature above freezing to allow the ice to melt to water, and draining the water from the bucket.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes a support and a mold rotatably mounted to the support configured for forming an ice cube therein. The mold has a base, a side wall attached to the base, and an opening in the side wall spaced from the base. An auger has a shaft with a proximal end fixed to the base of the mold, a distal end outside of the mold, and a central section between the proximal end and the distal end and extending through the opening. The auger also has a threaded portion. An inner mold is non-rotatably fixed to the support and extends into the mold. The inner mold defines an outer shape of the ice cube. The inner mold has at least one wall non-concentric with reference to a center line of the auger. A motor rotates the mold and auger relative to the support and inner mold. The inner mold is configured to prevent the ice cube from rotating with the mold and auger, the auger thereby moving the ice cube out of the mold and the inner mold via the opening.

Abstract: A method of determining a amount of ice collected in a storage container of a refrigerator, the ice being discharged into the storage container by an ice maker having an ice detecting sensor with a heater, the method comprises determining whether or not the ice storage container is full or nearly full of ice by turning on the detecting sensor for a prescribed period of time. In one embodiment, the heater is turned on while the determining step is preformed. In an alternative embodiment, the heater is continuously maintained in an “ON” state.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an icemaker assembly to prevent premature ice harvests is provided. In particular implementations, normal icemaker operations, including ice cube harvesting, can be suspended when an ice cube level in an ice cube storage bin is detected to exceed a predetermined threshold or when a command is received to prevent harvesting. When a command to prevent harvesting is received, communication from an ice cube storage bin sensor can be disconnected, for instance, after a current harvesting cycle is complete. The communication from the ice cube storage bin sensor can be reconnected following a time interval or after receiving a command to re-start the normal operations.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator configured to improve the structure of an ice-making chamber provided to a refrigerator door, thereby efficiently supplying cool air into the ice-making chamber. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage chamber, a refrigerator door rotatably coupled to the main body, an ice-making device provided to the refrigerator door and configured to make ice, an ice-making unit provided to the ice-making device and including a cool air introduction part, a freezing core vertically arranged in the ice-making unit and cooled by cool air, and an ice tray configured to receive at least one portion of the freezing core therein, wherein the cool air introduction part is provided on an upper side of the freezing core. Cool air is efficiently introduced into the ice-making chamber, thereby increasing the amount of ice made.

Abstract: An ice maker, a refrigerator including the ice maker, and an ice making method are provided. The ice maker includes a tray having a predetermined length and to which water is supplied to make ice. The ice maker is configured to mechanically separate the ice from the tray by using pistons which are driven by being pressed by structures. This allows the ice maker to have a reduced size, and a small occupation area, thereby implementing a slim configuration of a refrigerator. Furthermore, since an installation height of the ice maker is lowered, a path for supplying cool air may be shortened. This may prevent loss of cool air being supplied to the ice making chamber. Since the ice maker has a simplified configuration and precise operation controls, the fabrication costs may be reduced, and inferiority of the ice maker due to malfunctions may be prevented.

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, a refrigerator including the ice maker, and an ice making method are provided. The ice maker includes a tray having a predetermined length into which water is supplied to make ice. The ice maker is configured to mechanically separate the ice from the tray by using pistons which are driven by a motor. This permits the ice maker to have a reduced size, and occupy a small area, thereby implementing a slim configuration of a refrigerator. Furthermore, since an installation height of the ice maker is lowered, a path for supplying cool air may be shortened. This arrangement prevent loss of cool air being supplied to the ice making chamber.

Abstract: A method for reducing ice formation. The method involves using a substrate that has a patterned hydrophobic surface including raised structures. Also disclosed is a substrate having a hydrophobic surface including raised structures that form compartments or grooves having a surface free of angles that are less than or equal to 90°.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a frozen food product in a chamber having a tubular refrigerated wall and a partition which is movable along the chamber between upper and lower positions include multiple steps. First, after positioning the partition at its upper position, a liquid food product mix is introduced into the chamber above the partition so that the mix forms a pool of a selected depth atop the partition. The partition is then moved downward towards its lower position at a selected rate which causes the mix in the pool to flow outward under gravity into contact with the wall where it at least partially freezes to form an adherent uniform frozen mix layer on progressively lower segments of that wall. Then, the frozen mix layer is scraped from the wall to form a multiplicity of frozen scrapings, which are collected in a receptacle and dispensed as a frozen food product.

Abstract: The invention discloses an industrial shell and tube heat exchanger for providing freezing or chilling of brine to produce slurry ice, which includes a shell and tube heat exchanger located in a horizontal position and which includes at least one tube within the shell and tube heat exchanger; and at least one rotatable spiral driven in at least the one tube, and which is adapted to move or pump the brine and slurry ice through the respective tube to ensure individual supply of brine for the production of slurry ice.

Abstract: Disclosed are a refrigerator and a control method thereof, wherein operation of an icemaker can be controlled according to time or function. A sleep mode to control operation of an icemaker according to time is set to prevent generation of noise due to an ice-separating operation implemented at night. In the setting of the sleep mode, a control range of the sleep mode is selected according to a desired operating function (ice-making function or ice-separating function) of the icemaker and also, a period of the sleep mode in units of days/weeks/months (or an operating term) is selected.

Abstract: Provided is an ice maker, which includes an upper tray, a lower tray, and a rotation shaft. Upper cells of hemispherical shapes are arrayed in the upper tray. Lower cells of hemispherical shapes are arrayed in the lower tray that is rotatably connected to the upper tray. The rotation shaft is connected to a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray to rotate the lower tray relative to the upper tray. A rotation guide part rounded with a predetermined curvature is disposed in a region where the lower tray contacts the upper tray while the lower tray is rotated.

Abstract: There is provided an ice making method capable of forming ice to an intended level although a sensing unit configured to sense whether or not a formation of ice has reached the intended level malfunctions. The ice making method includes: an ice making initiation step S100 of forming ice by an ice formation unit; an ice release time determining step S200 of determining a point in time at which ice is to be released in consideration of a signal from a detection unit for detecting whether the formation of ice has reached an intended level and an ice making lapse time which has lapsed after the formation of ice was initiated by the ice formation unit; and an ice releasing step S300 of releasing the formed ice when a point in time at which ice is to be released is determined in the ice releasing time determining step.

Abstract: An ice making housing which is mounted in a refrigerator door and forms an ice making chamber including an ice making tray which has a rotational shaft to be rotatably accommodated in the ice making housing, and an ice generating unit to freeze supplied water; an ice separating unit which is mounted in the ice making housing and separates ice cubes from the ice making tray; an overflow preventing member which is rotatably coupled to the ice making housing along a lengthwise direction of the ice making tray and prevents overflow of water accommodated in the ice making tray; and a driving unit which is provided in the ice making tray and the overflow preventing member and allows the overflow preventing member to reciprocate between an ice separating position separating ice cubes from the ice generating unit and a cover position covering the ice generating unit.

Abstract: A clear ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one fluid outlet aperture in fluid communication with a bottom fluid chamber. During an ice making event, portions of an ice forming evaporator extending through the housing are exposed to water flowing into the fluid channels from the upper fluid chamber. The ice forming evaporator is formed with microchannels through which refrigerant flows such that water flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the exposed portions of the ice forming evaporator over time, forming clear ice pieces. In a harvesting operation, the ice pieces are released from the ice forming evaporator and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ice maker, a refrigerator having the ice maker, and a method for supplying ice of the refrigerator. When the ice making container is rotated, ice of the ice making container freefalls to be released, thus reducing the size of the ice maker and making a refrigerator slimmer. Also, since a partition wall is not provided on an inner circumferential surface of the ice making container, the roughness of the inner circumferential surface of the ice making container can be enhanced, and accordingly, heat can be evenly transferred from an ice releasing heater to reduce a generation amount of residual water. In addition, since ice can be released without using the ice releasing heater, power consumption can be reduced and residual water which can be generated in case of using the heater can be further reduced.

Abstract: A machine for producing ice cream shop products comprises a whipping and freezing unit (2) with a horizontal axis (A) and a removable head (10) forming an end wall (11) of the whipping and freezing unit (2), there being in the wall (11) an inlet (12) for ingredients intended to constitute the ice cream shop products, and an outlet (13) for the ice cream shop product prepared.

Abstract: An ice making device may include an ice tray, a water-supply part for supplying water to the ice tray, an electrostatic capacity sensor having two or more electrodes attached to the ice tray, a water quantity detecting section for detecting a water quantity in the ice tray on a basis of variation of an electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor, and an ice frozen detecting section for detecting water supplied to the ice tray having been frozen on the basis of the variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. A control unit for the ice making device controls the water-supply part, an ice tray drive part and an ice detecting part on the basis of variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor.