Ice maker including full ice sensing apparatus

Abstract

An ice maker includes an ice tray in which divided spaces which contain ice making water are provided, an ejector which discharges ice in the ice tray, a heater which is provided at one side of the ice tray and supplies heat to the ice tray, an ice storage container which stores the ice discharged by the ejector, and an ice amount sensing apparatus which senses whether the ice storage container is full of ice. Here, a heater cover which covers the heater, is connected to the ice tray, and to which the heat of the ice tray is transferred is formed below the heater, and an ice amount sensing apparatus cover which is connected to the heater cover and covers an outside of the ice amount sensing apparatus is formed at one side of the heater cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 an ice tray in which divided spaces which contain ice making water are provided;   an ejector which discharges ice in the ice tray;   a heater which is provided at one side of the ice tray and supplies heat to the ice tray;   an ice storage container which stores the ice discharged by the ejector; and   an ice amount sensing apparatus which senses whether the ice storage container is full of ice,   wherein a heater cover which covers the heater, is connected to the ice tray, and to which the heat of the ice tray is transferred is formed below the heater, and   wherein an ice amount sensing apparatus cover which is connected to the heater cover and covers an outside of the ice amount sensing apparatus is formed at one side of the heater cover.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein an incised portion which provides an operational space of the ice amount sensing apparatus is formed between the heater cover and the ice amount sensing apparatus cover. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein at least one spacing rib which maintains a distance between the ice amount sensing apparatus cover and the ice amount sensing apparatus is formed on at least one of the ice amount sensing apparatus cover and the ice amount sensing apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising an ice guide formed above the ice tray,
 wherein at least a part of the ice sensing apparatus cover is connected to the ice guide.   
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice amount sensing apparatus cover comprises a lower protrusion which protrudes downward. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein a separation-preventing structure which prevents the ice amount sensing apparatus from being separated is formed at the ice amount sensing apparatus cover. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein an engaged portion corresponding to the separation-preventing structure is formed at one side of the ice amount sensing apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . An ice maker comprising:
 an ice tray which comprises at least one ice making space able to contain ice making water;   an ejector which discharges ice in the ice making space;   a control box in which a motor connected to the ejector is provided; and   an ice amount sensing apparatus which comprises a rotatable arm connected to the control box and a body which is formed at one end of the arm, and senses an amount of the discharged ice,   wherein at least one protruding portion which protrudes outward from the body is formed.   
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion vertically extends and protrudes more as the protruding portion extends downward. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the protruding portion comprises a plate shape. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the protruding portion comprises a curved surface. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion faces an inner surface of a case located outside the ice maker, and the protruding portion and the inner surface are located at a predetermined interval, and the predetermined interval is determined to allow the ice to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the body is formed to be curved toward the ice tray based on a vertical direction as the body extends downward. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of ice guides disposed above the ice tray,
 wherein a plurality of partition walls for dividing the ice making space are formed, and   wherein a round portion with a concavely curved surface which faces each of the partition walls and is curved to each of the partition walls is formed at an inner surface of each of the ice guides.   
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein a cross section of the concavely curved surface of the round portion has a circular arc shape which comprises a predetermined radius. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein a cross section of the concavely curved surface of the round portion has a circular arc shape which comprises a different radius for each section of the plurality of ice guides. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein a central axis of each of the plurality of ice guides and each of the partition walls are located on a single plane. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein the round portion comprises a vertical barrier wall along a central axis of each of the ice guides. 
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein the round portion comprises a horizontal barrier wall which intersects with a central axis of each of the ice guides. 
     
     
         20 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of ice guides includes a connection member for connecting to a cover which covers the ice amount sensing apparatus.