Ice maker and method of making ice

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ice maker including an ice tray ( 51 ) for containing water and making ice, and at least one energy generator ( 54 ) disposed to supply energy to at least one of the water contained in the ice tray and the ice made in the ice tray, and a method of making ice.

1 . An ice maker, comprising.
 an ice tray for containing water and making ice; and   at least one energy generator disposed to supply energy to at least one of the water contained in the ice tray and the ice made in the ice tray.   
   
   
       2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy generator is an energy generator for supplying energy in the form of at least one of an electric field and a magnetic field. 
   
   
       3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy generator comprises an electrode for supplying electric energy. 
   
   
       4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , comprising a storing tank for supplying water to the contained in the ice tray,
 wherein the at least one energy generator is disposed to supply energy to the water in the storing tank.   
   
   
       5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy generator is disposed to supply energy to the ice made in the ice tray. 
   
   
       6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , comprising a heater for supplying heat to the ice tray. 
   
   
       7 . An ice maker, comprising:
 a tray for containing a supercooled liquid; and   a phase converter for applying an external force to convert the supercooled liquid contained in the tray into a solid phase.   
   
   
       8 . An ice maker, comprising:
 a storing tank for storing a supercooled liquid;   a tray disposed to be supplied with the supercooled liquid of the storing tank; and   a phase converter for applying an external force to the supercooled liquid contained in the tray.   
   
   
       9 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , comprising an energy generator for supplying energy to the supercooled liquid to maintain the supercooled state. 
   
   
       10 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the phase converter is an electric igniter. 
   
   
       11 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein at least a part of the tray is made of a conductive material. 
   
   
       12 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the tray is formed for the contained supercooled liquid so as to communicate with one another. 
   
   
       13 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , comprising a bank disposed to contain a solid phase supercooled liquid dropped from the tray. 
   
   
       14 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , comprising a heater attached to the tray. 
   
   
       15 . An ice maker, comprising:
 a storing tank for storing a supercooled liquid; the storing tank including an energy generator for supplying energy by using at least one of an electric field and a magnetic field to maintain the supercooled state;   a tray disposed to be supplied with the supercooled liquid of the storing tank; and   a bank disposed to contain a solid phase supercooled liquid dropped from the tray.   
   
   
       16 . The ice maker of  claim 15 , wherein the tray is formed for the contained Supercooled liquid so as to communicate with one another. 
   
   
       17 . A method of making ice, comprising
 a first step for supplying a supercooled liquid to a tray; and   a second step for applying an external force to the supercooled liquid supplied to the tray.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising a third step for discharging a solid phase supercooled liquid to which the external force has been applied from the tray. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising a step for freezing the solid phase supercooled liquid to which the external force has been applied, prior to the third step. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising a step for applying heat to the tray prior to the third step. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising a step for supplying energy to the Supercooled liquid to maintain the supercooled state, prior to the first step. 
   
   
       22 . A method of making ice, comprising:
 a first step for supplying energy to a supercooled liquid to maintain a supercooled state;   a second step for supplying the supercooled liquid to a tray; and   a third step for freezing the supplied supercooled liquid.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising a fourth step for discharging the frozen supercooled liquid to a bank. 
   
   
       24 . An ice maker, comprising:
 a tray having sections for containing ice;   a heater for applying heat to the tray to easily separate the ice from the sections; and   an energy generator for supplying energy to the ice side to lower the freezing point of the ice.   
   
   
       25 . The ice maker of  claim 24 , wherein the tray is made of a conductor. 
   
   
       26 . The ice maker of  claim 24 , comprising an ice separator disposed at the sections side of die tray, for separating the ice from the sections. 
   
   
       27 . The ice maker of  claim 24 , wherein the energy generator is a unit for supplying energy by using an electric field. 
   
   
       28 . A method of making ice, comprising:
 a first step for freezing ice in a tray; and   a second step for applying energy to the ice side to lower the freezing point of the ice, and applying heat to the tray.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising a third step for separating the ice from the tray. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein, in the second step, energy is generated by at least one of an electric field and a magnetic field.