Icemaker

Abstract

An icemaker includes an ice tray including a partitioned space accommodating ice-making water, an ejector configured to remove ice in the ice tray, an ice-removing heater provided on one side of the ice tray and including a heating element configured to supply heat to the ice tray, and a control box provided to face the ice tray and including a motor configured to drive the ejector and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the motor and the heater therein.

1 : An icemaker comprising:
 an ice tray including a partitioned space accommodating ice-making water;   an ejector configured to remove ice in the ice tray;   an ice-removing heater provided on one side of the ice tray and including a heating element configured to supply heat to the ice tray; and   a control box provided to face the ice tray and including a motor configured to drive the ejector and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the motor and the heater therein,   wherein the ice-removing heater has a plate shape;   a through-hole through which the ice-removing heater passes is formed on a side of the ice tray of the control box;   a packing member configured to pack the ice-removing heater is formed in the through-hole; and   a line formed to extend from the heating element of the ice-removing heater is packed by the packing member.   
     
     
         2 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice-removing heater passes through the packing member and one end thereof is directly inserted into a power inlet provided in the power supply unit. 
     
     
         3 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein an escape prevention structure configured to prevent detachment of the packing member from the through-hole is formed in the packing member. 
     
     
         4 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein the packing member is formed of an elastic material, the elastic material including at least one among a silicone, a resin, and a rubber. 
     
     
         5 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , further comprising a close contact member located on a side of the other surface of the ice-removing heater and configured to press the ice-removing heater against the ice tray. 
     
     
         6 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , further comprising a fixing part configured to fix a state in which one end of the ice-removing heater is inserted into the power inlet. 
     
     
         7 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the power inlet is tin plated. 
     
     
         8 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice-removing heater includes a power connector located in the control box and a heating part in close contact with the one side of the ice tray and configured to supply heat to the ice tray, wherein a thickness or width of the heating part is less than that of the power connector. 
     
     
         9 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice-removing heater includes:
 a first insulation layer;   a heating layer located on the first insulation layer; and   a second insulation layer formed on the heating layer,   wherein thicknesses or materials of the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer are different.   
     
     
         10 : The icemaker of  claim 9 , wherein the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer are formed of polyimide (PI) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         11 : The icemaker of  claim 9 , wherein the heating layer is formed of a metal patterned by etching or printing. 
     
     
         12 : The icemaker of  claim 9 , wherein the heating layer is formed of a heating material having positive-temperature coefficient (PTC) or a carbon material. 
     
     
         13 : The icemaker of  claim 9 , wherein the heating layer includes a cord heater. 
     
     
         14 : The icemaker of  claim 13 , wherein the cord heater includes a sheath irradiated with an electron beam. 
     
     
         15 : The icemaker of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer is irradiated with an electron beam. 
     
     
         16 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the ice tray in close contact with the ice-removing heater is formed as a flat surface. 
     
     
         17 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein an electric wire passing portion through which an electric wire, which is connected to a power controller configured to control power supplied to the ice-removing heater, passes is formed in the packing member. 
     
     
         18 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein at least one communication hole is formed in the ice-removing heater such that cooling air comes into contact with the ice tray. 
     
     
         19 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a plurality of ice-removing heaters identical to the ice-removing heater are formed; and   a preset distance between the plurality of ice-removing heaters is maintained such that cooling air comes into contact with the ice tray.   
     
     
         20 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice tray is formed of one material among a metal, a resin, and a combination of the metal and the resin. 
     
     
         21 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice-removing heater is adhered to the ice tray by an adhesive. 
     
     
         22 : The icemaker of  claim 21 , wherein the adhesive is a PI adhesive. 
     
     
         23 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice-removing heater is inserted into the ice tray to be assembled therewith. 
     
     
         24 : The icemaker of  claim 23 , wherein a plurality of through-holes are formed in the ice-removing heater which is inserted into the ice tray to be assembled therewith. 
     
     
         25 : An icemaker comprising:
 an ice tray including a partitioned space accommodating ice-making water;   an ice-removing heater provided on one side of the ice tray and including a heating element configured to supply heat to the ice tray; and   a control box provided to face the ice tray and including a motor configured to drive the ejector and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the motor and the heater therein,   wherein a power connector connected to a power source is formed on one side of the ice-removing heater; and   either (i) the power connector is inserted into an elastic member, which is inserted into one side of the control box; or   (ii) the power connector is covered by an elastic member that is inserted into a passing portion, the passing portion, through which the ice-removing heater and at least one of lead wires connected to the ice-removing heater pass, is provided on one side of the control box, and at least one of the elastic member and the ice-removing heater is pressed against the ice tray by a close contact member.   
     
     
         26 : The icemaker of  claim 25 , wherein the power connector is covered by the elastic member that is inserted into the passing portion;
 the passing portion, through which the ice-removing heater and the at least one of lead wires connected to the ice-removing heater pass, is provided on one side of the control box; and   the at least one of the elastic member and the ice-removing heater is pressed against the ice tray by the close contact member.   
     
     
         27 : An icemaker comprising:
 an ice tray including a partitioned space accommodating ice-making water;   an ice-removing heater provided on one side of the ice tray and including a heating element configured to supply heat to the ice tray; and   a control box provided to face the ice tray and including a motor configured to drive the ejector and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the motor and the heater therein,   wherein the ice-removing heater is connected to a control member configured to control a power source; and   at least one of a lead wire of the ice-removing heater and a lead wire of the control member is drawn into the control box through one or more passing portions formed in the control box.   
     
     
         28 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice-removing heater and the motor are supplied with direct current (DC) power. 
     
     
         29 : The icemaker of  claim 1 , further comprising a cam gear connected to the motor and rotated in the control box, wherein the cam gear operates a cam switch at a predetermined angle and consecutively performs a predetermined operation.