Ice maker

Abstract

An ice maker includes an upper tray that includes a plurality of upper cells that each have a hemispherical shape and an ice making tube disposed at outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to cool each of the upper cells. The ice maker also includes a lower tray that includes a plurality of lower cells that each have a hemispherical shape. The lower tray is rotatably connected to the upper tray. The ice maker further includes a rotation shaft connected to a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray, and configured to rotate the lower tray with respect to the upper tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ice maker comprising:
 an upper tray that includes a plurality of upper cells that each have a hemispherical shape, each of the plurality of upper cells shaped to be upwardly convex; 
 an ice making tube disposed at outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to cool each of the upper cells; 
 a lower tray that is rotatably connected to the upper tray and configured to rotate with respect to the upper tray, the lower tray comprising:
 a tray body in which a plurality of lower cells are formed, each of the plurality of lower cells being configured to have a hemispherical shape and being configured to be downwardly convex; and 
 an upper frame that is coupled to the tray body, the upper frame comprising:
 a plurality of communication holes each with a substantially same diameter as a top surface of each of the lower cells; and 
 a hook part that is configured to extend horizontally and vertically from an edge of the communication holes, where an upper end of the hook part is configured to be higher than the top surface of the lower cells; and 
 
 
 a rotation shaft connecting a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray, and configured to rotate the lower tray with respect to the upper tray, 
 wherein the lower tray is configured to be placed at a water supply position by rotating in a first direction, and opened surfaces of about the rotation shaft such that the plurality of upper cells and opened surfaces of the plurality of lower cells are configured to be spaced apart from and face each other at the water supply position, 
 wherein the plurality of lower cells of the lower tray are configured to receive water for making ice at the water supply position, and 
 wherein, when the water level reaches the upper end of the hook part, the lower tray is configured to further rotate in the a first direction to an ice making position where the opened surfaces of the plurality of lower cells are in closed contact with the opened surfaces of the plurality of upper cells of the upper tray, to define a complete sphere shape, and 
 wherein, when the lower tray rotates, the upper tray is maintained to be stationary. 
 
     
     
       2. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of links each having a first end connected to the lower trayand a second end connected to the upper tray; 
 link guides extending upward from both side ends of the upper tray, respectively; and 
 an upper ejecting pin assembly connected to the links in a state where both ends thereof are respectively inserted into the link guides, the upper ejecting pin assembly being configured to ascend or descend together with the links. 
 
     
     
       3. The ice maker according to  claim 2 , wherein the upper ejecting pin assembly comprises:
 a pin body that has both ends respectively connected to the pair of links; and 
 a plurality of ejecting pins extending downward from the pin body. 
 
     
     
       4. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lower ejecting pins respectively pressing bottom surfaces of the lower cells when the lower tray is rotated apart from the upper tray to an ice separation position. 
     
     
       5. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice making tube is disposed at outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to cool each of the upper cells, wherein the ice making tube comprises a refrigerant tube in which a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows, the refrigerant tube being branched from a position between an outlet of an expansion valve and an inlet of an evaporator. 
     
     
       6. The ice maker according to  claim 5 , further comprising a switching valve disposed on an inlet-side of the ice making tube. 
     
     
       7. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ice separating heater disposed at outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to heat the upper cells during an ice separating process. 
     
     
       8. The ice maker according to  claim 7 , wherein the ice separating heater is disposed inside or outside the ice making tube. 
     
     
       9. The ice maker according to  claim 8 , wherein the ice separating heater is disposed inside the ice making tube. 
     
     
       10. The ice maker according to  claim 8 , wherein the ice separating heater is disposed outside the ice making tube. 
     
     
       11. The ice maker according to  claim 8 , wherein the ice separating heater extends or is curved along a shape of the ice making tube. 
     
     
       12. The ice maker according to  claim 11 , wherein the ice separating heater extends along a shape of the ice making tube. 
     
     
       13. The ice maker according to  claim 11 , wherein the ice separating heater is curved along a shape of the ice making tube. 
     
     
       14. The ice maker according to  claim 7 , wherein the ice separating heater is disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells. 
     
     
       15. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice making tube is disposed on outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells. 
     
     
       16. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice making tube is disposed adjacent to outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells. 
     
     
       17. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower tray is configured to rotate without a vertical straight line motion in both rotating to attach to the upper tray in making ice, and rotating to separate from the upper tray in separating made ice pieces. 
     
     
       18. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower tray is configured to rotate in a second direction, which is opposite of the first direction, to an ice separation position, when the ice making is completed, and the opened surfaces of the plurality of lower cells of the lower tray are separated from the opened surfaces of the plurality of upper cells of the upper tray,
 wherein, at the ice separation position, the lower tray is farther away from the upper tray than at the water supply position. 
 
     
     
       19. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the hook part is configured, based on the lower tray receiving water at the water supply position, to contact and contain the received water. 
     
     
       20. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the hook part is provided as a separate component from the tray body that is coupled to the tray body. 
     
     
       21. An ice maker comprising:
 an upper tray that includes a plurality of upper cells that each have a hemispherical shape, each of the plurality of upper cells shaped to be upwardly convex;   a lower tray that is rotatably connected to the upper tray and configured to rotate with respect to the upper tray, the lower tray comprising:
 a tray body in which a plurality of lower cells are formed, each of the plurality of lower cells being configured to have a hemispherical shape and being configured to be downwardly convex; and 
 an upper frame that is coupled to the tray body, the upper frame comprising:
 a plurality of communication holes each with a substantially same diameter as a top surface of each of the lower cells; and 
 a hook part that is configured to extend horizontally and vertically from an edge of the communication holes, where an upper end of the hook part is configured to be higher than the top surface of the lower cells; and 
 
   a rotation shaft connecting a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray,   wherein the lower tray is configured to be placed at a water supply position by rotating about the rotation shaft such that the plurality of upper cells and the plurality of lower cells are configured to be spaced apart from and face each other at the water supply position,   wherein the plurality of lower cells of the lower tray are configured to receive water for making ice at the water supply position, and   wherein, when the water level reaches the upper end of the hook part, the lower tray is configured to rotate in a first direction to an ice making position where the plurality of lower cells are in closed contact with the plurality of upper cells of the upper tray, to define a complete sphere shape.   
     
     
       22. The ice maker according to claim 21, further comprising:
 a pair of links each having a first end connected to the lower tray;   link guides extending upward from both side ends of the upper tray, respectively; and   an upper ejecting pin assembly connected to the links in a state where both ends thereof are respectively inserted into the link guides, the upper ejecting pin assembly being configured to ascend or descend together with the links.   
     
     
       23. The ice maker according to claim 22, wherein the upper ejecting pin assembly comprises:
 a pin body that has both ends respectively connected to the pair of links; and   a plurality of ejecting pins extending downward from the pin body.   
     
     
       24. The ice maker according to claim 21, further comprising a plurality of lower ejecting pins respectively pressing bottom surfaces of the lower cells when the lower tray is rotated apart from the upper tray to an ice separation position. 
     
     
       25. The ice maker according to claim 1, further comprising a cooler configured to cool the upper cells. 
     
     
       26. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the upper cells are configured to be cooled by cool air supplied from an evaporator. 
     
     
       27. The ice maker according to claim 1, further comprising an ice separating heater disposed at outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to heat the upper cells during an ice separating process. 
     
     
       28. The ice maker according to claim 1, further comprising an ice separating heater disposed adjacent to outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to heat the upper cells during an ice separating process. 
     
     
       29. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the lower tray is configured to rotate without a vertical straight line motion in both rotating to attach to the upper tray in making ice, and rotating to separate from the upper tray in separating made ice pieces. 
     
     
       30. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the lower tray is configured to rotate in a second direction, which is opposite of the first direction, to an ice separation position, when the ice making is completed, and the plurality of lower cells of the lower tray are separated from the plurality of upper cells of the upper tray,
 wherein, at the ice separation position, the lower tray is farther away from the upper tray than at the water supply position.   
     
     
       31. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the hook part is configured, based on the lower tray receiving water at the water supply position, to contact and contain the received water. 
     
     
       32. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the hook part is provided as a separate component from the tray body that is coupled to the tray body.