ICE MAKER AND REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING THE SAME

Abstract

In an ice maker and a refrigerator, the discharge port is formed to be closer to one side of the front wall of the water supply part, the first front guide wall of the front guide walls connected to the opposite sides of the discharge port, which is disposed at the direction, to have a relatively short length, to which the discharge port is closer, is formed to be inclined in the direction toward the discharge port, so that the vector force of the discharge water flowing along the first front guide wall can attenuate the vector force of the discharge water flowing along the second front guide wall having a relatively long length.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0063313, filed on May 14, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same.

Description of Related Art

A refrigerator is a home appliance that supplies cold air generated by utilizing the circulation of refrigerant to a storage chamber, thereby keeping various types of storage objects fresh for a long period of time.

The refrigerator may include an ice maker producing ice by the cold air.

The ice maker may make ice by allowing water supplied from a water source or a water tank to be accommodated in an ice tray.

The ice produced in the ice maker may undergo an ice-separation process which can be performed in a variety of methods, such as a heating method in which an ice tray is heated or a twisting method in which the shape of an ice tray is changed.

In order to form an ice of a desired shape, the ice tray may include at least one ice chamber configured to have a corresponding shape.

As the water fed into the ice chamber is cooled by the cold air passing through the ice tray, the ice can be created.

The T water fed into the ice chamber may be supplied from a separately provided water supply tube.

In the case where the water supply tube is provided, water is not directly fed into the ice chamber from the water supply tube, but is first fed into a water supply part called a fill cup, and then fed into the ice chamber through a discharge port formed in the water supply part.

It is preferable that the water supply part be formed to have a sufficient space so that the water supplied from the water supply tube is not splashed or does not overflow to regions other than the discharge port of the water supply part and so that a certain amount of water can be stored instantaneously.

For example, the water supply part may be formed to have a shape of a storage container configured with a lower surface having a sufficiently wide area compared to the diameter of the water supply tube and the size of the discharge port, a side wall having a predetermined height, and an open top.

Meanwhile, the water supply tube may be disposed to be spaced apart from the lower surface of the water supply part by a predetermined distance, and the point on the lower surface of the water supply part, at which the water supplied from the water supply tube arrives, may be defined as a water discharge point.

In this case, if the water discharge point and the discharge port are not aligned with each other, or if the discharge port is formed asymmetrically based on the shape of the water supply part, an eccentric phenomenon may occur in which the discharge direction of the discharge water discharged into the ice chamber through the discharge port is leaned to one side.

In the case where the discharge direction of the discharge water is eccentric like this, there may occur a water splash phenomenon in which the water is not completely supplied from the water supply part to the ice chamber while being splashed or overflow into other surrounding regions.

In particular, in the case where the diameter of the water supply tube is reduced, the flow rate may be further significantly increased, which may further increase the occurrence of the water splash phenomenon.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same in which it is possible to reduce the eccentricity of the discharge water discharged through a discharge port even when the discharge port is formed to be closer to one side of the front wall of a water supply part.

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same in which it is possible to reduce the eccentricity of the discharge water discharged through the discharge port even when the discharge port of the water supply part and the water discharge point of the water supply tube are not aligned with each other.

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same in which it is possible to guide the discharge water discharged through the discharge port so that the discharge water is discharged as centrally as possible without being concentrated in one direction.

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same in which it is possible to reduce the occurrence of the water splash phenomenon in which the discharge water discharged through the discharge port overflows to the opposite outer sides of the discharge port.

An ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention for accomplishing the above-described objects includes an ice chamber making an ice, a water supply part including a front wall having a discharge port formed therein, through which water is discharged into the ice chamber, and a water supply tube supplying water to the water supply part, wherein the front wall includes a first front guide wall and a second front guide wall connected with one side and the other side of the discharge port, respectively, and wherein the first front guide wall having a length less than that of the second front guide wall is inclined in a direction toward the discharge port.

The second front guide wall may be formed to be horizontal with respect to the discharge port.

The second front guide wall may be inclined in a direction toward the discharge port, and the first front guide wall may be inclined in the direction toward the discharge port so as to have an inclination angle greater than that of the second front guide wall.

The water supply part may include a first side guide wall and a second side guide wall extending rearward from the first front guide wall and the second front guide wall, respectively, and at least a portion of the first side guide wall may be inclined to become farther away from the discharge port as it extends toward to a front side.

The at least a portion of the first side guide wall may include a region formed as a curved surface.

The first front guide wall and the first side guide wall may be connected with each other to have a curved surface.

The second side guide wall may be formed perpendicular to the discharge port.

The discharge port may be formed closer to the first side guide wall than to the second side guide wall.

The water supply part may include a first bottom surface formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall, and the first bottom surface may be flat.

The water supply part may include a first bottom surface formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall, and the first bottom surface may include a first slope inclined toward the second side guide wall.

The first slope may include at least a portion whose area increases as it approaches the front wall.

The water supply part may include a first bottom surface formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall, and the first bottom surface may include a first slope inclined toward the front wall.

The water supply part may include a first bottom surface formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall, and the first bottom surface may be connected to the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall to form a curved surface.

The water supply part may include a second bottom surface formed along the second front guide wall and the second side guide wall, and the second bottom surface may include a second slope inclined toward the first side guide wall.

The second slope may include at least a portion whose area increases as it approaches the front wall.

The water supply part may include a second bottom surface formed along the second front guide wall and the second side guide wall, and the second bottom surface may include a second slope inclined toward the front wall.

The water supply part may include a second bottom surface formed along the second front guide wall and the second side guide wall, and the second bottom surface may be connected to the second front surface guide wall and the second side guide wall to form a curved surface.

A water discharge point on a bottom surface of the water supply part to which the water supplied from the water supply tube is discharged may be disposed so as not to overlap with the discharge port in a front-rear direction.

The water supply part may further include a rear wall opposite the front wall, wherein in the rear wall a tube passing opening may be formed through which the water supply tube passes, and the tube passing opening may be disposed so as not to overlap with the discharge port in a front-rear direction.

The ice chamber may include an inlet guide through which the water flows in, wherein the water supply part may include a pair of water guide parts extending forward from opposite sides of the discharge port, and the pair of water guide parts may surround at least a portion of an outer periphery portion of the inlet guide.

Each of the water guide parts may include a guide body portion protruding to a front side of the discharge port, a lower extension portion extending in a down direction of the guide body portion, and a cover portion protruding in an outward direction of the guide body portion, wherein the lower extension portion may surround an inside of the inlet guide, and the cover portion may surround an outside of the inlet guide.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one storage chamber, at least one door opening and closing the storage chamber, and an ice maker mounted in the storage chamber or the door, wherein the ice maker may include an ice chamber making an ice, a water supply part including a front wall having a discharge port formed therein, through which water is discharged into the ice chamber, and a water supply tube supplying water to the water supply part, wherein the front wall may include a first front guide wall and a second front guide wall connected with one side and the other side of the discharge port, respectively, and wherein the first front guide wall having a length less than that of the second front guide wall may be inclined in a direction toward the discharge port.

In an ice maker and a refrigerator according to the present invention, in the case where the discharge port is formed to be closer to one side of the front wall of the water supply part, the first front guide wall of the front guide walls connected to the opposite sides of the discharge port, which is disposed at the direction, to have a relatively short length, to which the discharge port is closer, is formed to be inclined in the direction toward the discharge port, so that the vector force of the discharge water flowing along the first front guide wall can attenuate the vector force of the discharge water flowing along the second front guide wall having a relatively long length.

Additionally, in an ice maker and a refrigerator according to the present invention, in the case where the discharge port is formed in an asymmetrical shape based on the front wall of the water supply part, the first front guide wall formed at the direction to which the discharge port is closer is formed to have a predetermined inclination angle in the direction toward the discharge port, so that it is possible to easily increase or decrease the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port along the first front guide wall by utilizing the inclination angle of the first front guide wall.

Additionally, in an ice maker and a refrigerator according to the present invention, in the case where the second front guide wall having a relatively long length is formed horizontally with the discharge port, the first front guide wall having a relatively short length is formed to be inclined in the direction toward the discharge port, so that the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port along the second front guide wall can be attenuated by the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port along the first front guide wall.

Additionally, in an ice maker and a refrigerator according to the present invention, by forming the inclination angle at which the first front guide wall having a relatively short length is inclined in the direction toward the discharge port to be greater than the inclination angle at which the second front guide wall having a relatively long length is inclined in the direction toward the discharge port, it is possible to attenuate the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port along the second front guide wall by the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port along the first front guide wall.

Additionally, in an ice maker and a refrigerator according to the present invention, by forming the first bottom surface of the water supply part formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall to include a first slope inclined toward the second side guide wall, the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port along the second front guide wall can be attenuated by the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port along the first front guide wall by using the slope of the first bottom surface of the water supply part.

Additionally, in an ice maker and a refrigerator according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the eccentricity of the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port with the use of the inclination angle of the first front guide wall or the slope of the first bottom surface, so that the discharge water discharged through the discharge port can be guided to be discharged as centrally as possible without being concentrated in one direction.

Additionally, in an ice maker and a refrigerator according to the present invention, even in the case where the discharge port of the water supply part and the water discharge point of the water supply tube are not aligned with respect to the direction in which water is discharged through the discharge port, the eccentricity of the discharge water can be reduced by adjusting the inclination angles of the front guide walls formed on the opposite sides of the discharge port or the slope of the bottom surface of the water supply part.

Thereby, the eccentricity of the discharge water that may occur due to specific conditions such as the installation position of the water supply tube or the diameter of the water supply tube can be easily reduced by adjusting the inclination angles of the front guide walls formed on the opposite sides of the discharge port or the slope of the bottom surface of the water supply part.

Additionally, in an ice maker and a refrigerator according to the present invention, by forming the pair of water guide parts extending forward from the opposite sides of the discharge port, it is possible to guide the discharge water discharged through the discharge port so as not to overflow to the opposite outer sides of the discharge port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator in a state where a door is closed.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator in a state where a door is opened.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a door in the case where an ice maker is mounted on the door.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view from the rear of a door where an ice maker is mounted on the door.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are front and rear perspective views of an ice maker, respectively.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side cross-sectional views of an ice maker before and after an ice-separation process, respectively.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view from above of a water supply tube and an upper cover.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view in a front-rear direction of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an upper cover combined with an ice chamber according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are cross-sectional views in left and right directions of FIG. 12, respectively.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of an upper cover combined with an ice chamber according to another embodiment.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are cross-sectional views in left and right directions of FIG. 15, respectively.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view in a left-right direction of an upper cover according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of an upper cover combined with an ice chamber according to yet another embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of an upper cover combined with an ice chamber according to still yet another embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged perspective view of a discharge port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Hereinafter, an ice maker and a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention will be described.

First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, an ice maker, a refrigerator, and the connection relationship of the respective main components constituting them according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a refrigerator I may have an exterior formed by a cabinet 2 including one or more storage chambers therein, one or more first doors 11 positioned at the front side of the cabinet 2 to open and close a cooling chamber, and a second door 12 opening and closing a freezing chamber.

Although an embodiment of this specification will be described based on a type of refrigerator where the cooling chamber is disposed above the freezing chamber, the technical idea of this embodiment can also be applied to a type of refrigerator where the cooling chamber is disposed below the freezing chamber, or a type of refrigerator including only the freezing chamber, or a type of refrigerator where the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber are disposed right and left. Additionally, although this specification describes an embodiment in which the ice maker 30 is mounted on the first door 11, the technical idea of this embodiment can also be applied to the case where the ice maker 30 is disposed in a storage chamber such as a freezing chamber or a cooling chamber.

On the front side of any one door of the first door 11 and the second door 12, there may be disposed a dispenser 13 from which water and/or ice can be dispensed.

The first door 11 may include an outer case 21 and a door liner 22 coupled to the outer case 21. The door liner 22 may form the rear surface of the first door 11 to form an ice-making chamber 14 in which the ice maker 30 is disposed. The ice-making chamber 14 may be opened and closed by an ice-making chamber door 24 rotatably connected to the door liner 22 by means of a hinge 23.

In the cabinet 2, there may be formed a cold air supply duct hole 2a connected to an evaporator not shown to supply cold air to the ice making chamber 14, and a cold air recovery duct hole 2b recovering cold air from the ice-making chamber 14. On the first door 11, there may be mounted a door supply duct 25 having a cold air inlet hole 25a positioned at one side and a door supply duct hole 25h positioned at the other side to be communicated with the ice-making chamber 14, and a door recovery duct 26 having a cold air outlet hole 26a positioned at one side and a door recovery duct hole 26h positioned at the other side to be communicated with the ice-making chamber 14. In a state where the first door 11 closes the cooling chamber, the cold air inlet hole 25a of the door supply duct 25 may be aligned and communicated with the cold air supply duct hole 2a, and the cold air outlet hole 26a of the door recovery duct 26 may be aligned and communicated with the cold air recovery duct hole 2b. The door supply duct 25 and the door recovery duct 26 may extend from the outer wall 28 of the door liner 22 to the inner wall 27 forming the ice making chamber 14.

In the ice-making chamber 14, there may be disposed the ice maker 30, an ice bin 20 storing the ice discharged from the ice maker 30, and a support mechanism 40. The support mechanism 40 may include a support body 41 supporting and fixing the ice maker 30, and an ice opening 40h through which ice is discharged from the ice bin 20. The ice opening 40h may be communicated with an ice duct hole 15h formed in the inner wall 27. For example, when a user operates the dispenser 13 to extract ice, ice that has been separated from the ice maker 30 and stored in the ice bin 20 may pass through an ice duct 15 communicated with the ice opening 40h and the ice duct hole 15h and be discharged to the outside through an ice chute of the dispenser 13. Additionally, the user may open the first door 11 and obtain ice directly from the ice bin 20. In the ice bin 20, there may be additionally disposed an ice discharge module 50 that has the function of crushing ice and guides the stored ice to be easily discharged.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 9, the ice maker 30 may include an upper assembly 31 and a lower assembly 32. The upper assembly 31 may include an upper cover 100 and an upper tray 200. The lower assembly 32 may include a lower cover 300, a lower tray 400, and a lower supporter 500.

The lower assembly 32 may be connected to the upper assembly 31 so as to be rotatable about a single axis by a connecting shaft 850. The lower assembly 32 may make a spherical ice together with the upper assembly 31 in a state where it is in contact with the upper assembly 31. The upper assembly 31 and the lower assembly 32, which have a hemispherical upper chamber 220 and a lower chamber 420, respectively, may be combined with each other to form an ice chamber 33 capable of making a spherical ice. Hereinafter, an example will be described in which ice chambers 33 are arranged in a first row having five ice chambers disposed therein and a second row having six ice chambers 33 disposed therein; however, the embodiments are not limited to this.

In a state where the upper assembly 31 and the lower assembly 32 form the ice chambers 33, water may be supplied to the ice chambers 33 through a water supply part 130 formed in the upper cover 100. When the lower assembly 32 is rotated after ices have been made, the spherical ices formed between the upper assembly 31 and the lower assembly 32 may be separated from the ice chambers 33. The lower assembly 32 may be rotated in both directions by a drive unit 800 connected to one side of the upper tray 200.

The upper assembly 31 may include an upper ejector 600 including an upper ejecting pin 620 so that ice can be separated from the upper assembly 31. The upper ejecting pins 620 may be provided in the same number as the ice chambers 33. When the upper ejecting pin 620 penetrates through the upper assembly 31 and enters into the ice chamber 33 to push the ice, the pushed ice can be separated from the upper assembly 31.

Additionally, a lower ejector 700 including a lower ejecting pin 720 may be further included to enable ice adhered to the lower assembly 32 to be separated therefrom. The lower ejecting pins 720 may be provided in the same number as the ice chambers 33. As an example, the lower ejector 700 may be fixed to the upper assembly 31. When the lower assembly 32 is rotated, the lower ejector 700 can separate the ice from the lower chamber 420 by pushing the lower surface of the lower chamber 420 to change its shape. At the lower end of each lower chamber 420 a pressing portion 423 may be formed. The pressing portion 423 may be a region which is brought into contact with the lower ejecting pin 720 when the lower tray 400 is deformed by the lower ejector 700.

During the rotation process of the lower assembly 32 for the ice separation, the rotational force of the lower assembly 32 may be delivered to the upper ejector 600. For this purpose, the ice maker 30 may further include a connecting unit 830 connecting the lower assembly 32 with the upper ejector 600. For example, when the lower assembly 32 is rotated in one direction, the upper ejector 600 is lowered by the connecting unit 830 so that the upper ejecting pin 620 can push the ice. And when the lower assembly 32 is rotated in the other direction, the upper ejector 600 is raised by the connecting unit 830 to be returned to the original position.

Hereinafter, each component constituting the ice maker 30 will be described in more detail.

The upper ejector 600 may be disposed on the upper cover 100. The upper ejector 600 may include an upper ejector body 610 extending in one direction and a plurality of upper ejecting pins 620 protruding downward from the upper ejector body 610. On the upper portion of the upper ejector body 610 an upper rib 611 may be formed to extend in one direction. On the opposite sides of the upper ejector body 610, upper ejector guides 640 may be formed such that the upper ejector 600 can be moved up and down along unit guides 140 of the upper cover 100. Additionally, on the opposite sides of the upper ejector body 610, separation prevention protrusions 630 may be provided to prevent the separation of the connecting unit 830 in a state where it is coupled with the connecting unit 830.

The upper tray 200 may be disposed in the lower side of the upper cover 100. The upper tray 200 may include a plurality of upper chambers 220 formed in a down direction of a upper plate 210. The upper plate 210 may have a rectangular plate shape with a long side and a short side; however, the embodiments are not limited to this. The long side of the upper plate 210 may extend in a first direction, and the short side of the upper plate 210 may extend in a second direction. The first direction described in this specification may mean the x-axis direction; the second direction may mean the y-axis direction; and the third direction may mean the z-axis direction perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis. Additionally, the left-right direction of the ice maker 30 and the upper tray 200 described in this specification may mean the first direction and the x-axis direction; the front-rear direction may mean the second direction and the y-axis direction; and the up-down direction may mean the third direction and the z-axis direction. In addition, the rear side of the ice maker 30 and the upper tray 200 described in this specification may mean a direction toward a location where the support mechanism 40 is disposed or a location where cold air is introduced, and the front side may mean a direction adjacent to a place where cold air is discharged to the ice bin 20.

On each upper chamber 220 an inlet guide 230 may be formed to be communicated with the upper chamber 220 and extend in the upper direction of the upper plate 210. Each inlet guide 230 may be provided with an inlet opening 230h into which the upper ejecting pin 620 is inserted. Further, since the inlet guide 230 may be formed in a shape extending long in an upward direction, it is possible to prevent water from flowing in through the inlet opening 230h of the inlet guide 230 when supplying water to the ice maker 30.

By cutting away a portion of one inlet guide 230 of the plurality of inlet guides 230 in a direction toward the water supply part 130, a water supply guide 231 may be formed which guides water passing through the water supply part 130 to flow into the ice chamber 33. For example, the water supply guide 231 may have a generally semicylindrical shape in the front and a generally rectangular cylindrical shape in the rear; however, the embodiments are not limited to this. The water supply guide 231 may be one of the inlet guides 230 in the second row positioned in the rear side of the first row.

On the upper portion of the upper tray 200 a heating wire insertion portion 250 may be formed to surround the periphery of the plurality of upper chambers 220. In the heating wire insertion portion 250 a heating wire may be disposed to facilitate the separation of ice from the upper chamber 220 during the ice-separation process. On the upper portion of the heating wire a heating wire cover 900 may be disposed to cover the upper portion of the heating wire for the fixation of the heating wire. The heating wire cover 900 may be formed with a heating wire cover body portion 910 having a closed curve shape constituted by a flat body portion 912 and a curved body portion 911, and may be formed to have a shape generally similar to the shape of the peripheral part of the plurality of upper chambers 220.

On one side of the upper tray 200 a drive unit support part 260 may be formed which supports and is coupled with the drive unit 800. The drive unit support part 260 may include a bent portion 261 extending from one side of the upper plate 210 to bend upward and outwards and a coupling portion 262 coupled with the drive unit 800. The drive unit 800 may have a pair of insertion portions 805 formed to protrude in the upper region toward the coupling portion 262 so as to be inserted into a pair of insertion holes 262h formed in the coupling portion 262, thereby guiding the drive unit 800 to be easily coupled to the coupling portion 262. In the upper region of the drive unit 800 a fixing portion 804 may be formed which protrudes upward and includes a fixing hole 804h. The drive unit 800 may be fixed to the coupling portion 262 by a separate fastening member passing through the fixing hole 804h of the fixing portion 804 and being fastened to the fastening portion 263 formed in the upper region of the coupling portion 262. The drive unit 800 may include a first rotation shaft 801 providing a driving force to rotate the lower assembly 32 and a second rotation shaft 802 providing a driving force to rotate a full ice lever 870.

On opposite rear sides of the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200 a pair of fastening portions 240 may be formed which extends rearward and bend upward. In the fastening portions 240 a pair of fastening holes 240h may be formed. The ice maker 30 may be fixed to the support mechanism 40 through the pair of fastening portions 240 of the upper tray 200. Referring to FIG. 3, the support mechanism 40 may include a support body 41 extending in an up-down direction, and the support body 41 may have a pair of insertion holes 42 formed on the rear surface thereof, through which the fastening portions 240 of the upper tray 200 can pass rearward. For example, the mounting process of the ice maker 30 to the support mechanism 40 may be performed in the following way: the fastening portions 240 of the upper tray 200 having the bent shape are inserted through the insertion holes 42 of the support mechanism 40, and then the ice maker is pushed upward from the lower side to be mounted thereto. The ice maker 30 may be fixed to the support mechanism 40 by a separate fastening member passing through the fastening hole 240h of the fastening portion 240 and being fastened to the support mechanism 40.

On the front surface of the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200 a pair of protrusions 280 may be formed to protrude forward. The pair of protrusions 280 may establish a spacing distance from a structure positioned in front of the ice maker 30. On opposite sides of the lower surface of the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200 a pair of hinge supporters 270 may be provided which protrude downward and have hinge holes 270h formed in the left and right directions. To each hinge supporter 270 a tray bush 840 may be coupled.

The upper tray 200 may be formed of a metal material. For example, the upper tray 200 may be formed to have high rigidity by being manufactured with a metal material in a die casting method. In this way, since the upper tray 200 is formed of a material having high rigidity, it can not only minimize deformation of the upper chamber 220, but also serve as a support part which supports the drive unit 800.

The lower assembly 32 may include the lower tray 400 including a plurality of lower chambers 420, the lower supporter 500 supporting the lower portion of the lower tray 400, and the lower cover 300 securing the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500 to each other.

The lower tray 400 may be formed of a flexible material which can return to its original shape even after undergoing the deformation by an external force. For example, the lower tray 400 may be formed of a silicone material. In the case where the lower tray 400 is formed of a silicone material, even if an external force is applied to the lower tray 400 during the ice-separation process to deform the shape of the lower tray 400, the lower tray 400 can return to its original shape. Thereby, even in the case where the ice making process is performed repeatedly, it is possible to produce spherical ice. The lower tray 400 may include a plurality of lower chambers 420. The plurality of lower chambers 420 may be arranged in a plurality of rows. For example, a plurality of first row lower chambers may be arranged along the first row, and a plurality of second row lower chambers may be arranged along the second row.

Meanwhile, the lower supporter 500 may include a plurality of chamber receiving portions 520 for receiving the plurality of lower chambers 420 of the lower tray 400. Each chamber receiving portion 520 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the lower surface of the lower chamber 420. In the inner central region of the chamber receiving portion 520 a lower opening may be formed through which the lower ejector 700 penetrates during the ice-separation process. Thus, the lower opening may be formed in each chamber receiving portion 520. The lower surface of the lower chamber 420 of the lower tray 400 can be exposed to the outside through the lower opening.

On the front side of the lower cover 300 a front wall 310 may be formed to extend downward, and on the rear side thereof a rear wall 320 may be formed to extend downward. In the inner upper region of the rear wall 320, a first rear projection stopper 321 may be formed to protrude toward the inside of the lower cover 300 while being extended along an direction in which the rear wall 320 is extended, and in the inner lower region, a second rear projection stopper 322 may be formed to protrude toward the inside of the lower cover 300 while being extended along an direction in which the rear wall 320 is extended. When the lower cover 300 is combined with the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500, the rear surface of the lower supporter 500 can be fixed by being engaged between or hooked by the first rear projection stopper 321 and the second rear projection stopper 322.

Similarly, in the inner lower region of the front wall 310, one or more first front projection stoppers may be formed to protrude toward the inside of the lower cover 300, and in the inner upper region of the front wall 310, one or more second front projection stoppers may be formed to protrude toward the inside of the lower cover 300. When the lower cover 300 is combined with the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500, the front surface of the lower supporter 500 can be fixed by being engaged between or hooked by the first front projection stopper and the second front projection stopper.

Through the opposite sides of the lower supporter 500, shaft connecting portions 811, 821 of the first link 810 and the second link 820 may penetrate, respectively. Between the shaft connecting portion 811 of the first link 810 and the shaft connecting portion 821 of the second link 820 which are disposed to face each other, the connecting shaft 850 extending in one direction may be disposed. On one side of the first link 810 disposed adjacent to the drive unit 800, a rotation shaft connecting portion 813 may be formed to be connected with a rotation protruding part 803 formed on the first rotation shaft 801 of the drive unit 800, thereby delivering the driving force of the drive unit 800 to the lower assembly 32.

The opposite sides of the lower supporter 500 may be combined to supporter connecting holes 832 formed on one sides of the pair of connecting units 830, respectively. On the other side of each connecting unit 830, there may be formed an ejector connecting hole 831 coupled with the separation prevention protrusion 630 of the upper ejector 600. The separation prevention protrusion 630 of the upper ejector 600 may be connected with the ejector connecting hole 831 of the connecting unit 830 while being positioned in the outside of the unit guide 140 of the upper cover 100. When the lower assembly 32 is rotated while delivering the rotational force to the upper ejector 600 through the connecting unit 830, the upper ejector 600 can be moved up and down along the unit guide 140 of the upper cover 100.

The first link 810 and the second link 820 may be connected with the lower supporter 500 through a pair of clastic members 860, respectively. For example, the clastic member 860 may be a coil spring. One ends of the elastic members 860 may be connected to the spring connecting holes 812, 822 of the first link 810 and the second link 820, respectively, and the other ends thereof may be connected to the opposite sides of the lower supporter 500, respectively. The elastic member 860 may provide elastic force to the lower supporter 500 so that the upper tray 200 and the lower tray 400 are maintained in contact.

In the lower side of the lower assembly 32 the lower ejector 700 may be disposed. The lower ejector 700 may push the lower assembly 32 to cause ice adhered to the lower assembly 32 to be separated from the lower assembly 32. The lower ejector 700 may include a lower ejector body 710 and a plurality of lower ejecting pins 720 protruding from the lower ejector body 710. The lower ejecting pins 720 may be provided in the same number as the ice chambers 33. The lower ejector 700 may be fixed to the upper assembly 31, but the embodiments are not limited to this, and the lower ejector 700 may also be fixed to the support mechanism 40. When the lower assembly 32 is rotated toward the location of the lower ejector 700 during the ice-separation process, the lower surface of the lower chamber 420 formed in the lower tray 400 of the lower assembly 32 is pushed and deformed by the lower ejector 700, thereby allowing ice adhered to the lower chamber 420 to be separated.

On opposite sides of the lower ejector body 710, there may be formed protrusions 750 protruding outwards. Each protrusion 750 may be fixed by a support holder 43 formed on the front surface of the support mechanism 40. Additionally, on one side of each protrusion 750 a groove 751 may be formed to be combined with a protrusion formed on the support mechanism 40, thereby more strongly restraining the left-right movement of the lower ejector 700. Additionally, on the rear side of the lower ejector body 710 a fastening boss 740 may be formed to extend rearward, and the fastening boss 740 may be fastened to a fastening hole in the support mechanism 40 by a separate fastening member such as a screw. Thereby, the lower ejector body 710 can be fixed so that its movement in the forward and backward directions can be restricted by the support mechanism 40.

On opposite sides of the upper region of the lower ejector body 710 a pair of fastening portions 730 may be formed which include fastening holes 730h. In the rear side of the upper tray 200 a pair of ejector connecting portions 290 may be formed which are bent and extend outwards to cover the fastening portions 730 of the lower ejector body 710. In each ejector connecting portion 290 a fastening hole 290h may be formed so as to be fastened to the fastening hole 730h in the fastening portion 730 of the lower ejector body 710 by a separate fastening member such as a screw. Thereby, the lower ejector 700 can be fixed to the upper assembly 31.

The amount of ice stored in the ice bin 20 may be sensed by the full ice lever 870. The full ice lever 870 may include a sensing portion 871 extending long in one direction with the opposite ends being bent, and a pair of hook portions 872 formed at the bent opposite ends of the sensing portion 871. The hook portion 872 formed on one side may be connected to the second rotation shaft 802 of the drive unit 800 to receives driving force from the drive unit 800, and the hook portion 872 formed on the other side may be inserted into and engaged with a lever receiving portion 121 extending downward from an air guide part 120 of the upper cover 100. However, the lever storage portion 121 may be formed as a separate structure rather than being integral with the upper cover 100 and mounted on the inner wall 27 of the first door 11, or may be formed by providing a through hole on the inner wall 27 of the first door 11 itself, with which the hook portion 872 can be engaged.

Hereinafter, with further reference to FIGS. 10 to 20, the upper cover 100 according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.

The upper cover 100 disposed on the upper tray 200 may include an upper cover plate 101 corresponding to the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200.

The upper cover plate 101 may be formed in a shape having a long side in the x-axis direction, which is the first direction, and a short side in the y-axis direction, which is the second direction.

There may be formed a cover body 110 extending along the periphery of the upper cover plate 101, having a predetermined height in the up and down direction, and including a front portion 111 at the front of the upper cover plate and side wall portions 112 formed on opposite sides of the front portion 111.

In the opposite side wall portions 112 of the cover body 110 the pair of unit guides 140 may be formed to be opened in the up-down direction to guide the movement of the upper ejector 600 in the up-down direction.

At the rear of the upper cover plate 101, there may be disposed an inclined part 113 having a downward slope toward the upper cover plate 101, and a rear portion 114 finishing the rear side of the inclined part 113.

The lower surface of the inclined part 113 may be connected to the lower surface of the upper cover plate 101.

In the rear side of the upper cover plate 101 the water supply part 130 may be disposed.

The water supply part 130 may be disposed to be closer to one side based on the left-right direction, which is the first direction of the upper cover plate 101.

For example, the water supply part 130 may be disposed so as to be closer to the right rear of the upper cover plate 101.

On one side of the water supply part 130 the air guide part 120 may be formed which includes an air guide hole 120h communicated with the door supply duct hole 25h to be supplied with cold air.

The air guide part 120 may be communicated with the lower side of the water supply part 130, so that the cold air supplied through the air guide part 120 can flow along the lower side of the lower surface of the inclined part 113 toward the front portion 111.

Since the cover body 110, air guide part 120, and water supply part 130 of the upper cover 100 may be formed as an integral body, not only the number of parts can be reduced, but also the occurrence of assembly tolerance can be reduced.

On the upper cover plate 101 a plurality of insertion bosses 180 may be formed which correspond to the inlet guides 230 of the upper tray 200, respectively.

The insertion bosses 180 may be disposed in a number and at positions, respectively, corresponding to the ice chambers 33.

As described above, on the upper chamber 220 constituting the upper portion of each ice chamber 33, there may be formed the inlet guide 230 extending long upward and including the opened inlet opening 230h.

The upper end of the inlet guide 230 may be disposed to be inserted into the insertion boss 180.

Therefore, the inlet guide 230 may be formed to have an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion boss 180.

Along the upper surface edge of the insertion boss 180 a boss guide portion 181 may be formed.

The boss guide portion 181 may protrude from the upper surface of the insertion boss 180 to have a predetermined height.

The boss guide part 181 may guide the upper end of the inlet guide 230 inserted into the insertion boss 180.

The upper surface of the boss guide portion 181 and the end of the inlet guide 230 may be aligned to be substantially flush with each other.

In this way, as the boss guide part 181 protrudes upward rather than downward from the upper cover 100, the cold air flow path formed between the upper tray 200 and the upper cover 100 is not obstructed by the boss guide part 181, and a sufficient cold air inflow space can be obtained.

In the upper cover plate 101 corresponding to the water supply guide 231 among the inlet guides 230 a water supply guide hole 183 may be formed.

That is, the insertion boss 180 among the plurality of insertion bosses 180, which corresponds to the water supply guide 231, may be the water supply guide hole 183.

In this case, the water supply guide hole 183 may be opened in the up-down direction; however, unlike the other insertion bosses 180, there may be no separate boss guide part formed therein.

Accordingly, the upper end of the water supply guide 231 inserted into the water supply guide hole 183 may protrude upward above the water supply guide hole 183.

In the surrounding region of the insertion boss 180 one or more pin guides 150 may be disposed which are formed to extend upward and be disposed around the periphery of the inlet guide 230 of the upper tray 200.

The pin guide 150 may guide the upper ejecting pin 620 to be accurately inserted into the inlet guide 230.

Among the plurality of insertion bosses 180 adjacent to each other a receiving portion guide 161 may be formed.

The receiving portion guide 161 may guide the receiving portion of a sensor such as a temperature sensor, and the receiving portion in which the sensor is received may be formed on the upper tray 200.

Meanwhile, the water supply part 130 may be formed to have the shape of a storage container with the top surface open.

In the front side of the water supply part 130 a front wall 131 may be formed which extends upward to have a predetermined height, and in the front wall 131 a discharge port 1314 may be formed through which water is discharged to the ice chamber 33.

The discharge port 1314 may be formed at a position corresponding to the water supply guide hole 183, and be disposed so as to overlap with the water supply guide hole 183 in the front-rear direction.

It is preferable that the width of the discharge port 1314 in the left-right direction be formed smaller than the width of the water supply guide hole 183 in the left-right direction.

Thereby, the discharge water discharged through the discharge port 1314 can be supplied to the plurality of ice chambers 33 through the water supply guide 231 inserted into the water supply guide hole 183 to be exposed to the outside thereof.

For example, in the front wall 131 a discharge guide wall 1313 may be formed which has the discharge port 1314 formed therein, and on the opposite sides of the discharge guide wall 1313 a first front guide wall 1311 and a second front guide wall 1312 may be formed which extend from one side and the other side of the discharge guide wall 1313, respectively.

The discharge guide wall 1313 may be formed to protrude further forward than the first front guide wall 1311 and the second front guide wall 1312.

The discharge port 1314 may be disposed to be parallel with the first front guide wall 1311 or the second front guide wall 1312 in a left-right direction.

For example, referring to FIG. 12, the discharge port 1314 having an opening extending in the un-down direction and in the left-right direction may be formed horizontally with the second front guide wall 1312.

The discharge guide wall 1313 may be connected to the first front guide wall 1311 and the second front guide wall 1312, respectively, so as to have a step difference therebetween.

The discharge port 1314 may be disposed in the lower side of the discharge guide wall 1313, and the upper region of the discharge port 1314 may be finished by the discharge guide wall 1313.

The discharge guide wall 1313 may be disposed so as to overlap with the water supply guide hole 183 in the front-rear direction, and the discharge guide wall 1313 positioned in front of the discharge port 1314 may be disposed so as to overlap with the water supply guide hole 183 in the up-down direction.

For example, the discharge guide wall 1313 may be positioned a predetermined distance ahead of the rear end of the water supply guide hole 183.

Since the discharge water discharged through the discharge port 1314 may be blocked by the discharge guide wall 1313, the discharge water can be supplied through the discharge port 1314 to the water supply guide 231 inserted into the water supply guide hole 183 without overflowing to the upper region of the discharge port 1314.

The discharge port 1314 may be disposed closer to one side based on the front wall 131.

Thereby, the discharge guide wall 1313 in which the discharge port 1314 is formed may be formed in an asymmetrical shape based on the shape of the front wall 131.

For example, the discharge port 1314 may be disposed closer to the left side of the front wall 131, and the discharge guide wall 1313 may also be disposed closer to the left side of the front wall 131.

Thereby, the first front guide wall 1311 positioned in one side, which the discharge port 1314 is disposed closer to, while being connected to one side of the discharge guide wall 1313 can be formed to have a length smaller than that of the second front guide wall 1312 connected to the other side positioned in the opposite side to the one side of the discharge guide wall 1313.

The first front guide wall 1311 may be formed to be inclined toward the discharge port 1314.

For example, the angle at which the outer surface of the first front guide wall 1311 is inclined with respect to the x-axis direction may be defined as the first inclination angle Θ1.

The second front guide wall 1312 may extend along the x-axis direction.

Thereby, the second front guide wall 1312 may be disposed horizontally with the discharge port 1314.

Meanwhile, at the opposite ends of the front wall 131 the pair of side walls 132 may be formed to extend rearward.

The side wall 132 extending rearward from the first front guide wall 1311 may be a first side guide wall 1321, and the side wall 132 extending rearward from the second front guide wall 1312 may be a second side guide wall 1322.

Thereby, the discharge port 1314 may be disposed closer to the first side guide wall 1321 than to the second side guide wall 1322.

The second side guide wall 1322 may be formed to extend in the front-rear direction so as to intersect with the second front guide wall 1312 extending in the left-right direction.

For example, the second side guide wall 1322 may extend in a direction perpendicular to the second front guide wall 1312.

Accordingly, the second side guide wall 1322 may be formed to extend perpendicularly to the discharge port 1314.

Contrarily, the first side guide wall 1321 may not extend in a direction perpendicular to the first front guide wall 1311, and may include a region in which at least a portion is formed of a curved surface.

For example, the connection portion where the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321 are connected with each other may be connected by a curved region 1221c having a curved surface.

The first side guide wall 1321 may be generally formed in a shape that becomes closer to the discharge port 1314 as it goes to the rear side, and becomes farther away from the discharge port 1314 as it goes to the front side.

For example, at least a portion of the first side guide wall 1321 may include an inclination region 1321s that is inclined to become farther away from the discharge port 1314 as it goes to the front side.

Since another structure 138 related to the ice maker 30 may be disposed in the left side of the first side guide wall 1321, the first side guide wall 1321 may be extended toward the outside of the water supply part 130 to the maximum extent that it does not interfere with the structure 138.

The rear end of the first side guide wall 1321 may be disposed further to the right side than the front end of the first side guide wall 1321.

The rear side of the water supply part 130 may be finished by a rear wall 133.

The rear wall 133 may be formed to extend in the left-right direction to connect the rear end of the first side guide wall 1321 and the rear end of the second side guide wall 1322.

In the rear wall 133 a tube passing opening 1331 may be formed through which a water supply tube 190 passes.

The tube passing opening 1331 may be formed in a shape in which a portion of the upper area of the rear wall 133 is cut to a predetermined width and height; however, the embodiments are not limited to this.

The tube passing opening 1331 may be disposed so as not to be aligned with the discharge port 1314 in the front-rear direction.

For example, the tube passing opening 1331 may be disposed so as not to overlap with the discharge port 1314 in the front-rear direction.

Additionally, the tube passing opening 1331 may be disposed so that, if any, only a portion of the tube passing opening overlaps with the discharge port 1314.

The discharge port 1314 may be disposed adjacent to one side, the left side, of the water supply part 130, while the tube passing opening 1331 may be disposed in the center region of the rear wall 133 or may be disposed relatively closer to the other side, the right side, than the discharge port 1314.

The end of the water supply tube 190 may be positioned inside the water supply part 130 through the tube passing opening 1331 of the rear wall 133.

For example, the water supply tube 190 may extend from the rear side of the water supply part 130 to the front side thereof to pass through the tube passing opening 1331.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the exterior of the water supply tube 190 may be protected by a tube guide part 191 wrapping around the outside of the water supply tube 190.

The tube guide part 191 may guide the position of the water supply tube 190 and a water discharge point 136 on the bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130, to which water is discharged from the water supply tube 190, as well as protect the exterior of the water supply tube 190.

The bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130 may be formed to have a downward slope toward the front side.

Thereby, the direction of water movement can be easily guided so that water discharged to the bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130 can be discharged to the discharge port 1314 positioned in the front side.

The tube guide part 191 may be formed as a separate structure from the upper cover 100, and be fixed to the door liner 22 or the support mechanism 40; however, the embodiments are not limited to this.

A portion of the tube guide part 191 may also pass through the tube passing opening 1331 of the water supply part 130, and be formed in a shape that allows the water supply tube 190 to be bent so that the water discharge outlet of the water supply tube 190 through which water is discharged faces the bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130.

Thereby, since the water discharge outlet of the water supply tube 190 is guided toward the bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130 by the tube guide part 191, water discharged from the water supply tube 190 to the water supply part 130 can be stably discharged to a specific point of the water supply part 130, which is the water discharge point 136.

In this way, the water discharge point 136 where water supplied from the water supply tube 190 is discharged to the bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130 may be disposed so as not to overlap with the discharge port 1314 of the front wall 131 in the front-rear direction.

As described above, the discharge port 1314 formed in the front wall 131 may not be formed symmetrically in the central area of the front wall 131, but may be formed adjacent to the first side guide wall 1321, so that the discharge port 1314 may not be positioned in the central region of the water supply part 130 but close to one side thereof.

In comparison with this, the water discharge point 136 may be positioned approximately in the center region of the water supply part 130.

The water discharged from the water supply tube 190 can spread along the bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130 toward the rear wall 133, both side walls 132, and the front wall 131.

Thus, by positioning the water discharge point 136 close to the center region of the bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130, the water discharged from the water supply tube 190 can spread as evenly as possible toward the rear wall 133, opposite side walls 132, and the front wall 131.

Like this, in the case where the water discharge point 136 and the discharge port 1314 are not aligned with each other in the front-rear direction, the water supplied to the water discharge point 136 may flow toward the discharge port 1314 with different vector forces depending on the shapes of the rear wall 133, side wall 132, and front wall 131 formed around it.

For example, water heading to the right side from the water discharge point 136 may be moved along the second side guide wall 1322 and the second front guide wall 1312 toward the discharge port 1314.

In this case, since the discharge port 1314 is positioned close to the left side of the water supply part 130, the water can be moved toward the discharge port 1314 along the second front guide wall 1312 which has a relatively long length, thus imparting to the water the significantly great vector force toward the left from right.

Meanwhile, water heading to the left side from the discharge point 136 may be moved along the first side guide wall 1321 and the first front guide wall 1311 toward the discharge port 1314.

However, since the discharge port 1314 is disposed very close to the first side guide wall 1321 compared to the second side guide wall 1322, the movement path of water flowing from left to right along the first side guide wall 1321 and the first front guide wall 1311 may be relatively much shorter compared to the movement path of water flowing from right to left.

Since the movement path of water flowing from left to right is much shorter than the movement path of water flowing from right to left, the vector force exerted by the water flowing from left to right is much smaller than the vector force exerted by the water flowing from right to left.

Thus, when the difference in vector force of water flowing in from opposite sides of the discharge port 1314 is great, the vector force of the discharge water directed from the left to the right of the discharge port 1314 becomes eccentric, so the discharge water discharged through the discharge port 1314 may not be directed toward the center of the discharge port 1314 but may be concentrated toward the left side of the discharge port 1314.

In view of the above, one embodiment of the present invention can provide a structure capable of increasing the vector force of the discharge water directed from left to right so as to offset the vector force of the discharge water directed from right to left.

To this end, the first front guide wall 1311 having a shorter length than the second front guide wall 1312 may be formed to be inclined in the direction toward the discharge port 1314.

Referring to FIG. 12, the second front guide wall 1312 may extend parallel to the discharge port 1314.

Even in the case where the first front guide wall 1311 has a shorter length than the second front guide wall 1312, by forming the first front guide wall 1311 to be inclined at a predetermined first inclination angle Θ1 toward the discharge port 1314, the vector force of the discharge water directed from left to right toward the discharge port 1314 can be increased.

For example, the first inclination angle Θ1 may be, but is not limited to, about 20 degrees.

In this way, the vector force of the discharge water flowing along the first front guide wall 1311 can be increased by setting the first front guide wall 1311 to be inclined in the direction toward the discharge port 1314, so that the vector force of the discharge water flowing along the second front guide wall 1312 can be offset by the opposing vector force.

Thereby, the discharge water discharged through the discharge port 1314 can be guided to be discharged from the central region of the discharge port 1314 as much as possible without being concentrated to one side.

In addition, one embodiment of the present invention can increase the movement path of the discharge water flowing along the first side guide wall 1321 by forming at least a portion of the first side guide wall 1321 to become farther from the discharge port 1314 as it goes toward the front side, thereby increasing the vector force of the discharge water directed from the left to the right toward the discharge port 1314 through the shape change of the first side guide wall 1321.

In this case, the first side guide wall 1321 can further increase the movement path of the discharge water by including an inclination region 1321s or a region formed of a curved surface.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the region where the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321 are connected with each other has a curved region 1221c, so that the vector force of the discharge water flowing from the first side guide wall 1321 along the first front guide wall 1311 can be guided toward the discharge port 1314 while maintaining the vector force as much as possible in the same state without being reduced in the region where the first side guide wall 1321 and the first front guide wall 1311 are connected with each other.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, in one embodiment according to the present invention, the bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130 may include a first bottom surface 1341 formed along the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321, and a second bottom surface 1342 formed along the second front guide wall 1312 and the second side guide wall 1322.

Based on the front-rear direction of the water supply part 130, the first bottom surface 1341 and the second bottom surface 1342 may be formed to be inclined downward toward the front side, so that water supplied from the water supply part 130 does not remain in the water supply part 130 but is discharged through the discharge port 1314.

Based on the left-right direction of the water supply part 130, the first bottom surface 1341 may be formed as a flat surface without forming a separate slope.

Since the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321 forming the first bottom surface 1341 are formed to be inclined with respect to the discharge port 1314, the discharge water does not remain in the region where the both walls are connected with each other, and can be discharged toward the discharge port 1314.

Contrarily, in the case of the second bottom surface 1342, since the second front guide wall 1312 is formed horizontally with the discharge port 1314, water may remain in the water supply part 130 without flowing toward the discharge port 1314 from the region where the second front guide wall 1312 and the second side guide wall 1322 are connected with each other.

In view of the above, one embodiment of the present invention may be formed such that the second bottom surface 1342 has a second downward slope 1342s toward the first side guide wall 1321.

For example, the second bottom surface 1342 may be inclined to have a third inclination angle Θ3 in the direction toward the first side guide wall 1321.

In this case, the third inclination angle Θ3 may be defined as the angle formed by the first bottom surface 1341 of the water supply part 130, which is horizontal, and the lower surface of the second bottom surface 1342 having the second slope 1342s.

In this way, since the second bottom surface 1342 is formed to have a downward slope toward the first side guide wall 1321, the direction of movement of water can be guided in order that the water can be discharged toward the discharge port 1314 without remaining in the region where the second front guide wall 1312 and the second side guide wall 1322 are connected with each other.

Further, in the case of the second bottom surface 1342, it may be formed so that its area decreases as it goes from the front to the rear.

That is, the connection area connecting the first bottom surface 1341 with the second bottom surface 1342 may be formed in a diagonal direction toward the discharge port 1314.

Thereby, the direction of movement of water can be guided so that the water flowing along the second bottom surface 1342 can be discharged toward the discharge port 1314 without remaining in the region where the second front guide wall 1312 and the second side guide wall 1322 are connected with each other.

Meanwhile, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17.

The bottom surface 134 of the water supply part 130 may include a first bottom surface 1341 formed along the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321, a second bottom surface 1342 formed along the second front guide wall 1312 and the second side guide wall 1322, and a third bottom surface 1343 disposed between the first bottom surface 1341 and the second bottom surface 1342 to connect the first bottom surface 1341 with the second bottom surface 1342.

Based on the front-rear direction of the water supply part 130, the first bottom surface 1341, the second bottom surface 1342, and the third bottom surface 1343 may be formed to be inclined downward toward the front, so that water supplied from the water supply part 130 does not remain in the water supply part 130 but is discharged through the discharge port 1314.

Thereby, the first slope 1341s forming the first bottom surface 1341 and the second slope 1342s forming the second bottom surface 1342 may be inclined toward the front wall 131.

Based on the left-right direction of the water supply part 130, the third bottom surface 1343 may be formed as a flat surface without forming a separate slope.

In the case of the second bottom surface 1342, it may be formed to have a downward second slope 1342s toward the first side guide wall 1321, thereby preventing water from remaining in the region where the second front guide wall 1312 and the second side guide wall 1322 are connected with each other.

For example, the second bottom surface 1342 may be inclined to have a third inclination angle Θ3 in the direction toward the first side guide wall 1321.

In this case, the third inclination angle Θ3 may be defined as the angle formed by the lower surface of the third bottom surface 1343 and the lower surface of the second slope 1342s of the second bottom surface 1342 having a slope.

In this case, the first bottom surface 1341 may be formed to include the first slope 1341s inclined toward the second side guide wall 1322.

For example, the first slope 1341s may be inclined to have a fourth inclination angle Θ4 in the direction toward the second side guide wall 1322.

In this case, the fourth inclination angle Θ4 may be defined as the angle formed by the third bottom surface 1343 of the water supply part 130, which is horizontal, and the lower surface of the first bottom surface 1341 having the first slope 1341s.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, even in the case where the first front guide wall 1311 has a shorter length than the second front guide wall 1312, by forming the first front guide wall 1311 to be inclined at a predetermined first inclination angle Θ1 toward the discharge port 1314, the vector force of the discharge water directed from left to right toward the discharge port 1314 can be increased.

However, only by forming the first front guide wall 1311 to be inclined toward the discharge port 1314, it may not be possible due to constraint of space to sufficiently increase the vector force of the discharge water directed from the left to the right.

In view of the above, another embodiment of the present invention proposes to form the first bottom surface 1341 to include the first slope 1341s inclined toward the second side guide wall 1322, so that it is possible to further increase the vector force of the discharge water directed from the left to the right with the use of the inclination of the first bottom surface 1341.

Further, it is preferable that the fourth inclination angle Θ4 of the first slope 1341s be formed to be greater than the third inclination angle Θ3 of the second slope 1342s.

Thereby, the vector force of the discharge water directed from left to right through the first slope 1341s can be set to be greater than the vector force of the discharge water directed from right to left through the second slope 1342s.

The second slope 1342s may include at least a region whose area increases as it goes from the rear to the front, that is, as it approaches the front wall 131.

Likewise, the first slope 1341s may also include at least a region whose area increases as it goes from the rear to the front, that is, as it approaches the front wall 131.

In this way, as the area of the first inclined surface 1341s increases while approaching the front wall 131, the vector force can be further increased with the region becoming closer to the discharge port 1314, thereby increasing the vector force of the discharge water directed from left to right.

The connection site where the first bottom surface 1341 and the third bottom surface 1343 are connected with each other may be formed in a diagonal direction with respect to the discharge port 1314.

For example, the connection site where the first bottom surface 1341 and the third bottom surface 1343 are connected with each other may start adjacent to the left side of the tube passing opening 1331 of the rear wall 133, and may end adjacent to the left side of the discharge port 1314 of the front wall 131.

Thereby, the connection site where the first bottom surface 1341 and the third bottom surface 1343 are connected with each other may be formed in a diagonal shape extending from left to right as it goes from front to rear.

According to another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG. 18, the connection site where the first bottom surface 1341 and the third bottom surface 1343 are connected with each other may start adjacent to the right side of the tube passing opening 1331 of the rear wall 133, and may end adjacent to the left side of the discharge port 1314 of the front wall 131.

Thereby, the connection site where the first bottom surface 1341 and the third bottom surface 1343 are connected with each other may be formed in a diagonal shape extending from left to right as it goes from front to rear, and the area occupied by the first bottom surface 1341 may be further significantly increased.

As the area occupied by the first bottom surface 1341 increases significantly in this way, the vector force of the discharge water directed from left to right toward the discharge port 1314 can be further significantly increased.

According to another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG. 19, the second front guide wall 1312 may be formed to be inclined toward the discharge port 1314 at a second inclination angle Θ2 in the direction toward the discharge port 1314.

For example, the angle at which the outer surface of the second front guide wall 1312 is inclined with respect to the x-axis direction may be defined as the second inclination angle Θ2.

Thereby, not only the first front guide wall 1311 but also the second front guide wall 1312 may be formed to be inclined in the direction toward the discharge port 1314.

In this case, by setting the first inclination angle Θ1 formed by the first front guide wall 1311 to have an inclination angle greater than the second inclination angle Θ2 formed by the second front guide wall 1312, it is possible to allow the vector force of the discharge water directed from left to right toward the discharge port 1314 to be further significantly increased.

Referring to FIG. 20, a first virtual line A, a second virtual line B, a third virtual line C, and a fourth virtual line D may be defined based on the front-rear direction of the upper cover 100.

The first virtual line A is a virtual line extending in the front-rear direction from the boundary line of the inlet guide 230 positioned adjacent to one side of the water supply guide 231.

Specifically, the first virtual line A is a virtual line extending in the front-rear direction from the outermost boundary line on the right side of the inlet guide 230 positioned adjacent to the left side of the water supply guide 231.

The second virtual line B is a virtual line extending in the front-rear direction from the outermost boundary line of the first side guide wall 1321.

Specifically, the second virtual line B may be a boundary line to which the first side guide wall 1321 can protrude to the maximum extent toward the inlet guide 230 positioned adjacent to one side of the water supply guide 231.

The third virtual line C is a virtual line extending in the front-rear direction from one side boundary line of the water supply guide 231.

Specifically, the third virtual line C is a virtual line extending in the front-rear direction from the left outermost boundary line of the water supply guide 231 positioned in the direction in which the first side guide wall 1321 protrudes.

The fourth virtual line D is a virtual line extending in the front-rear direction from the rear wall 133 and the discharge guide wall 1313.

Specifically, the fourth virtual line D may be a virtual line extending in the front-rear direction intersecting with the left and right direction in which the rear wall 133 and the discharge guide wall 1313 extend, and may be a boundary line where the first side guide wall 1321 starts based on the rear wall 133, and a boundary line where the first front guide wall 1311 starts based on the discharge guide wall 1313.

Additionally, the fourth virtual line D may be the left outermost boundary line of the discharge port 1314.

Therefore, the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321 may be positioned in the left side of the fourth virtual line D.

The first virtual line A, the second virtual line B, the third virtual line C, and the fourth virtual line D described as above may be arranged from left to right sequentially.

The outermost boundary line of the first side guide wall 1321 may be positioned between the water supply guide 231 and the left inlet guide 230 adjacent to the water supply guide 231.

Therefore, the outermost boundary line of the first side guide wall 1321 may be positioned in the right side of the outermost boundary line of the inlet guide 230, and the first side guide wall 1321 and the inlet guide 230 may not overlap with each other in the front-rear direction.

As the first side guide wall 1321 and the inlet guide 230 are disposed so as not to overlap with each other in the front-rear direction, the cold air from rear to front can flow to the inlet guide 230 without being obstructed by the first side guide wall 1321.

The outermost boundary line of the first side guide wall 1321 may be disposed to protrude further outwards than the outermost boundary line of the water supply guide 231.

Thereby, the rightward vector force of the discharge water discharged to the discharge port 1314 along the inner surface of the first side guide wall 1321 can be increased.

Additionally, the first side guide wall 1321 and the first front guide wall 1311 may be disposed to protrude further outwards than the left outermost boundary line of the discharge port 1314.

Thereby, the rightward vector force of the discharge water discharged to the discharge port 1314 along the inner surfaces of the first side guide wall 1321 and the first front guide wall 1311 can be increased.

The embodiments of the present invention described above can reduce the eccentricity of the vector force of the discharge water directed to the discharge port with the use of the inclination angle of the first front guide wall or the slope of the first bottom surface, so that the discharge water discharged through the discharge port can be guided to be discharged as centrally as possible without being concentrated in one direction.

Further, even in the case where the discharge port of the water supply part and the water discharge point of the water supply tube are not aligned with respect to the direction in which water is discharged through the discharge port, the eccentricity of the discharge water can be reduced by adjusting the inclination angles of the front guide walls formed on the opposite sides of the discharge port or the slope of the bottom surface of the water supply part.

Thereby, the eccentricity of the discharge water that may occur due to specific conditions such as the installation position of the water supply tube or the diameter of the water supply tube can be easily reduced by adjusting the inclination angles of the front guide walls formed on the opposite sides of the discharge port or the slope of the bottom surface of the water supply part.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a region in which the discharge guide wall 1313 and discharge port 1314 are formed.

The first bottom surface 1341 may be connected with the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321 by a recessed connecting portion 137.

For example, the recessed connecting portion 137 may be formed in a shape recessed to have a curved surface.

In this way, the first bottom surface 1341 is connected with the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321 to have a curved surface, and it is possible to reduce the discharge water remaining at the site where the first bottom surface 1341 is connected with the first front guide wall 1311 and the first side guide wall 1321.

Meanwhile, the ice chamber 33 may include the water supply guide 231 which is the inlet guide 230 through which water is supplied, and the water supply guide 231 may be inserted into the water supply guide hole 183 corresponding to the discharge port 1314.

In this case, a portion of the upper end region of the water supply guide 231 may protrude further upward than the water supply guide hole 183.

The water supply part 130 may include a pair of water guide parts 135 extending forward from the opposite sides of the discharge port 1314.

The pair of water guide parts 135 may be formed to surround at least a portion of the outer periphery of the water supply guide 231.

According to the present invention, by forming the pair of water guide parts 135 extending forward from the opposite sides of the discharge port 1314, it is possible to guide the discharge water discharged through the discharge port 1314 so as not to overflow to the opposite outer sides of the discharge port 1314.

For example, each water guide part 135 may include a guide body portion 1351 protruding to the front side of the discharge port 1314, a lower extension portion 1352 extending in the down direction of the guide body portion 1351, and a cover portion 1353 protruding in the outward direction of the guide body portion 1351.

The guide body portions 1351 may extend to protrude forward from the opposite sides of the discharge guide wall 1313 in the front-rear direction, to have the same height in the up direction as the lower end of the discharge guide wall 1313, and to have a height in the down direction, which is almost identical to the upper end of the water supply guide 231 inserted into the water supply guide hole 183 to protrude therethrough.

The guide body portion 1351 may be formed to be introduced into the inside of the water supply guide hole 183, while being disposed to overlap with the inside of the water supply guide hole 183 in the up and down direction.

The region of the guide body portion 1351 which overlaps with the upper end of the water supply guide 231 may be termed as a seat portion 1354.

At the lower end of the guide body portion 1351, the cover portion 1353 may be formed to protrude in the outward direction of the guide body portion 1351, and be bent downward.

The cover portion 1353 may be formed in the outer circumferential surface of the water supply guide hole 183.

Thereby, when the water supply guide 231 is inserted into the water supply guide hole 183, the cover portion 1353 may be disposed outside the water supply guide 231.

According to the shape of the guide body portion 1351 and the cover portion 1353 formed like this, the water guide part 135 is configured to surround the outside of the water supply guide 231, so that it is possible to prevent the discharge water discharged from the discharge port 1314 from being splashed to the outside of the water supply guide 231.

Additionally, the lower extension portion 1352 may extend in the down direction of the guide body portion 1351. The lower extension portion 1352 may extend downward in the inside of the water supply guide hole 183 to surround the inside of the water supply guide 231.

The length of the lower extension portion 1352 in the front-rear direction may be formed shorter than the length of the guide body portion 1351 in the front-rear direction.

Thereby, the seat portion 1354 may be formed to have a wider region in front of the lower extension portion 1352.

As described above, since the lower extension portion 1352 of the water guide part 135 is formed to surround the inside of the water supply guide 231 and the cover portion 1353 is formed to surround the outside of the water supply guide 231, it is possible to prevent water from flowing in between the water supply guide 231 and the water supply guide hole 183 in the region adjacent to the discharge port 1314.

It is preferable that the pair of water guide parts 135 extend forward from the discharge port 1314 to surround the water supply guide 231 to such an extent that they do not interfere with the movement of the upper ejector 600 in the up and down direction.

Claims

1. An ice maker comprising:

an ice chamber making an ice;

a water supply part including a front wall having a discharge port formed therein, through which water is discharged into the ice chamber; and

a water supply tube supplying water to the water supply part,

wherein the front wall includes a first front guide wall and a second front guide wall connected with one side and the other side of the discharge port, respectively, and

wherein the first front guide wall having a length less than that of the second front guide wall is inclined in a direction toward the discharge port.

2. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the second front guide wall is formed to be horizontal with respect to the discharge port.

3. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the second front guide wall is inclined in a direction toward the discharge port, and

wherein the first front guide wall is inclined in the direction toward the discharge port so as to have an inclination angle greater than that of the second front guide wall.

4. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the water supply part includes a first side guide wall and a second side guide wall extending rearward from the first front guide wall and the second front guide wall, respectively, and

wherein at least a portion of the first side guide wall is inclined to become farther away from the discharge port as it extends toward a front side.

5. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the at least a portion of the first side guide wall includes a region formed as a curved surface.

6. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall are connected with each other to have a curved surface.

7. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the second side guide wall is formed perpendicular to the discharge port.

8. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the discharge port is formed closer to the first side guide wall than to the second side guide wall.

9. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the water supply part includes a first bottom surface formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall, and

wherein the first bottom surface is flat.

10. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the water supply part includes a first bottom surface formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall, and

wherein the first bottom surface includes a first slope inclined toward the second side guide wall.

11. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the water supply part includes a first bottom surface formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall, and

wherein the first bottom surface includes a first slope inclined toward the front wall.

12. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the water supply part includes a first bottom surface formed along the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall, and

wherein the first bottom surface is connected to the first front guide wall and the first side guide wall to form a curved surface.

13. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the water supply part includes a second bottom surface formed along the second front guide wall and the second side guide wall, and

wherein the second bottom surface includes a second slope inclined toward the first side guide wall.

14. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the water supply part includes a second bottom surface formed along the second front guide wall and the second side guide wall, and

wherein the second bottom surface includes a second slope inclined toward the front wall.

15. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein the water supply part includes a second bottom surface formed along the second front guide wall and the second side guide wall, and

wherein the second bottom surface is connected to the second front guide wall and the second side guide wall to form a curved surface.

16. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein a water discharge point on a bottom surface of the water supply part to which the water supplied from the water supply tube is discharged is disposed so as not to overlap with the discharge port in a front-rear direction.

17. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the water supply part further includes a rear wall opposite the front wall,

wherein in the rear wall a tube passing opening is formed through which the water supply tube passes, and

wherein the tube passing opening is disposed so as not to overlap with the discharge port in a front-rear direction.

18. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the ice chamber includes an inlet guide through which the water flows in,

wherein the water supply part includes a pair of water guide parts extending forward from opposite sides of the discharge port, and

wherein the pair of water guide parts surround at least a portion of an outer periphery portion of the inlet guide.

19. The ice maker of claim 18, wherein each of the water guide parts includes:

a guide body portion protruding to a front side of the discharge port;

a lower extension portion extending in a down direction of the guide body portion; and

a cover portion protruding in an outward direction of the guide body portion, and

wherein the lower extension portion surrounds an inside of the inlet guide, and the cover portion surrounds an outside of the inlet guide.

20. A refrigerator comprising:

at least one storage chamber;

at least one door opening and closing the storage chamber; and

an ice maker mounted in the storage chamber or the door,

wherein the ice maker includes: an ice chamber making an ice; a water supply part including a front wall having a discharge port formed therein, through which water is discharged into the ice chamber; and a water supply tube supplying water to the water supply part,

wherein the front wall includes a first front guide wall and a second front guide wall connected with one side and the other side of the discharge port, respectively, and

wherein the first front guide wall having a length less than that of the second front guide wall is inclined in a direction toward the discharge port.