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, 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 comprising:   a plurality of communication holes each with a 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;   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 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 receive water for making ice at the water supply position, wherein, when the water level reaches the upper end of the hook part the lower tray is configured to further rotate in the 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 tray and 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 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 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. An ice maker comprising:
 a first stationary tray including a plurality of first cells in a convex shape to form a first portion of an ice; and   a second moving tray that is operably coupled to the first tray and configured to be opened and closed with respect to the first tray, the second tray including a plurality of second cells in a convex shape to form a second portion of the ice,   wherein the second tray comprises:
 a first frame having a plurality of communication openings each with a substantially same diameter as an open surface of each of the second cells, 
 a hook part that is configured to extend horizontally and vertically from an edge of the communication openings, wherein the plurality of second cells pass through the first frame, and 
 a second frame that is configured to be fixed to a surface of the first frame.  
   
     
     
       20. The ice maker of claim 19, further comprising an upper ejecting pin assembly configured to separate ice pieces from the first tray.  
     
     
       21. The ice maker of claim 20, wherein the upper ejecting pin assembly is movably connected to the second tray and configured to ascend or descend based on a rotation of the second tray.  
     
     
       22. The ice maker of claim 21, wherein the upper ejecting pin assembly comprises:
 a pin body that extends in a horizontal direction and is connected to the second tray; and   a plurality of upper ejecting pins that extend downward in a vertical direction from a lower side of the pin body.    
     
     
       23. The ice maker of claim 22, further comprising a link that links the upper ejecting pin assembly to the second tray and that has a first end connected to the pin body of the upper ejecting pin assembly and a second end connected to the second tray,
 wherein the upper ejecting pin assembly is connected to the link and configured to ascend or descend together with the link based on the rotation of the second tray.    
     
     
       24. The ice maker of claim 23, wherein the upper ejecting pin assembly further includes a link connecting end protruding from the pin body and connected to the first end of the link.  
     
     
       25. The ice maker of claim 23, further comprising:
 a link guide extending upward from the first tray; and   a guide hole defined in the link guide and extending vertically,   wherein in a state where an end of the pin body is inserted into the guide hole, the upper ejecting pin assembly is configured to ascend or descend with the link along the guide hole.    
     
     
       26. The ice maker of claim 25, wherein the upper ejecting pin assembly further includes:
 a guide protrusion protruding from the pin body and configured to be inserted into the guide hole; and   a link connecting end protruding from the guide protrusion and connected to the first end of the link.    
     
     
       27. The ice maker of claim 23, wherein the second tray comprises:
 a rear end rotatably coupled to a rear end of the first tray by a rotation shaft; and   a link connecting end protruding from the second tray and connected to the second end of the link.    
     
     
       28. The ice maker of claim 27, wherein the rotation shaft is configured to pass through both edges of a rear end of the first frame, and
 wherein the link connecting end protrudes from each of both side surfaces of the rear end of the first frame.    
     
     
       29. The ice maker of claim 23, wherein, when the second tray rotates downward with respect to the first tray, the second end of the link is configured to descend and the upper ejecting pin assembly is configured to descend together with the link.  
     
     
       30. The ice maker of claim 22, wherein the first tray defines a plurality of holes disposed at open surfaces of the first cells, respectively,
 wherein the plurality of upper ejecting pins are configured to be disposed outside the first tray during an ice making process, and   wherein the plurality of upper ejecting pins are configured to pass through the holes during an ice separating process.    
     
     
       31. The ice maker of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of lower ejecting pins that are configured to respectively press on closed surfaces of the second cells when the second tray is rotated apart from the first tray during an ice separating process.  
     
     
       32. An ice maker comprising:
 an upper tray that includes a plurality of upper cells in a convex shape to form a first portion of an ice; and   a lower tray that is operably coupled to the upper tray and configured to be opened and closed with respect to the upper tray, the lower tray including a plurality of lower cells in a convex shape to form a second portion of the ice,   wherein the lower tray comprises:
 an upper frame having a plurality of communication openings each with a substantially same diameter as an open surface of each of the lower cells, 
 a hook part that is configured to extend horizontally and vertically from an edge of the communication openings, wherein the plurality of lower cells pass through the upper frame, and 
 a lower frame that is configured to be fixed to a bottom surface of the upper frame.  
   
     
     
       33. The ice maker of claim 32, wherein the lower tray further comprises a guide wall extending upward from an extension end that extends radially from an edge of a top surface of each of the plurality of lower cells, and
 wherein the hook part is seated on the extension end and the guide wall.