Ice maker

Abstract

Disclosed are an ice maker, which can make ice with high transparency. The ice maker includes an ice making container configured to be filled with ice-making water; a heating ice-separator comprising a heating rod extended from above a water surface of the ice-making water into the ice making container so as to be immersed in the ice-making water and configured to transfer heat to the ice-making water, and a rotary shaft connecting with the heating rod, extended to traverse an upper portion of the ice making container, and configured to rotate the heating rod to be separated from the ice making container; and a heater configured to supply heat to the heating rod. By using the heater, the ice maker can not only make the ice with the high transparency, but also make ice-separation structure be simplified.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ice maker comprising:
 an ice making container including an ice-making cell; 
 a heating ice-separator comprising
 a rotary shaft, and 
 a heating rod coupled to the rotary shaft, and configured to, with ice-making water filled into the ice-making cell, extend from above a water surface of the ice-making water so that at least a distal end of the heating rod extends into a center of the ice-making cell and to a bottom of the ice-making cell and thereby ice formation proceeds in the ice-making cell from lateral sides of an inner surface of the ice-making cell toward the heating rod located at the center of the ice-making cell, and, with at least the distal end extending into the ice-making water, to transfer heat to the ice-making water, 
 wherein the rotary shaft is configured to, with the distal end extending into the ice-making cell and at least some of the ice-making water having been formed into ice, rotate the heating rod so that the distal end no longer extends into the ice-making cell, to separate the ice from the ice-making cell or to separate the heating rod from the ice; and 
 
 a heater configured to supply heat to the heating rod. 
 
     
     
       2. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice-making cell has a hemispheric inner surface. 
     
     
       3. The ice maker according to  claim 2 , wherein the distal end of the heating rod extends to the bottom of the ice-making cell within a range not affecting rotation of the heating rod. 
     
     
       4. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the rotary shaft comprises a hollow in a lengthwise direction, and 
 the heater is inserted in the hollow of the rotary shaft. 
 
     
     
       5. The ice maker according to  claim 4 , wherein the rotary shaft rotates around the heater. 
     
     
       6. The ice maker according to  claim 4 , wherein the heater is provided so as to leave an air gap from an inner surface of the rotary shaft. 
     
     
       7. The ice maker according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a motor configured to rotate the rotary shaft, 
 wherein the rotary shaft comprises:
 a first rotary shaft supporting the heater and comprising the heating rod; and 
 a second rotary shaft coupling with the first rotary shaft, and transferring power of the motor to the first rotary shaft. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The ice maker according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the first rotary shaft comprises a material having high thermal conductivity, and 
 the second rotary shaft comprises a material having lower thermal conductivity than the first rotary shaft. 
 
     
     
       9. The ice maker according to  claim 7 , wherein the second rotary shaft is provided so as to leave an air gap from the first rotary shaft. 
     
     
       10. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating rod comprises a heating head comprising an outer circumferential surface having a curvature corresponding to the inner surface of the ice-making cell. 
     
     
       11. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating rod comprises a plurality of pores. 
     
     
       12. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating rod has been subjected to hydrophilic surface treatment. 
     
     
       13. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the heating rod is internally provided with a hollow, and 
 the heater is inserted in the hollow. 
 
     
     
       14. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the heater comprises an electric cable configured to supply power, 
 the heater is configured to rotate as the heating rod rotates, and 
 the electric cable is arranged to be wound and unwound as the heater rotates. 
 
     
     
       15. The ice maker according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the heater is configured to rotate when ice is made or separated, and 
 a power connector is provided to supply power corresponding to the rotation of the heater. 
 
     
     
       16. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ice-separation guide extended from an edge of the ice making container toward the rotary shaft, and configured to guide ice to be separated from the heating rod. 
     
     
       17. The ice maker according to  claim 16 , wherein the ice-separation guide has an arc shape of which a radius of curvature gradually decreases from the edge of the ice making container toward the rotary shaft. 
     
     
       18. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , further comprising a container supporter arranged above the ice making container, configured to support the ice making container, and comprising a cup to supply the ice-making water to the ice making container. 
     
     
       19. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice making container comprises a cup adjacent to and integrated with the ice-making cell and configured to supply the ice-making water, and
 at least one perforation is provided in a connecting portion between the ice-making cell and the cup. 
 
     
     
       20. The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice making container comprises a cooling fin to promote cooling of the ice-making water. 
     
     
       21. An ice maker comprising:
 an ice making container including an ice-making cell; 
 a heating ice-separator comprising
 a rotary shaft, and 
 a heating rod coupled to the rotary shaft, and configured to, with ice-making water filled into the ice-making cell, extend from above a water surface of the ice-making water so that at least a distal end of the heating rod extends into the ice-making cell and thereby extends into the ice-making water, and, with at least the distal end extending into the ice-making water, to transfer heat to the ice-making water, 
 wherein the rotary shaft is configured to, with the distal end extending into the ice-making cell and at least some of the ice-making water having been formed into ice, rotate the heating rod so that the distal end no longer extends into the ice-making cell, to separate the heating rod from the ice; 
 
 a heater configured to supply heat to the heating rod; and 
 an ejector which rotates at a same time as the heating rod, to eject, from the ice-making cell, the ice from which the heating rod is separated. 
 
     
     
       22. An ice maker comprising:
 an ice making container; 
 a cooler configured to supply a chill; 
 a heater configured to generate heat; 
 a heating rod configured to,
 with ice-making water filled into a space of the ice making container, extend from above a water surface of the ice-making water so that at least a distal end of the heating rod extends into a center of the ice making container and to a bottom of the ice making container and thereby ice formation proceeds in the ice making container from lateral sides of an inner surface of the ice making container toward the heating rod located at the center of the ice making container, 
 while at least the distal end extending into the ice-making water, transfer the heat generated by the heater to the ice-making water, and, 
 with at least some of the ice-making water having been formed into ice by the supply of chill by the cooler, rotate to separate the ice from the space or to separate the heating rod from the ice; and 
 
 a motor configured to rotate the heating rod. 
 
     
     
       23. An ice maker comprising:
 a main body comprising an ice-making compartment; 
 a cooler configured to supply chill to the ice-making compartment; 
 an ice making container in the ice-making compartment and comprising at least one ice-making cell; 
 a heater configured to generate heat; 
 a heating rod configured to,
 with ice-making water filled in the ice-making cell, extend from above a water surface of the ice-making water so that at least a distal end of the heating rod extends into a center of the ice-making cell and to a bottom of the ice-making cell and thereby ice formation proceeds in the ice-making cell from lateral sides of an inner surface of the ice-making cell toward the heating rod located at the center of the ice-making cell, 
 with at least the distal end of the heating rod extending into the ice-making water, transfer heat generated by the heater to the ice-making water, and 
 with at least the distal end of the heating rod extending into the ice-making water and at least some of the ice-making water forming ice by the supply of chill by the cooler, rotate to separate the ice from the ice-making cell or to separate the heating rod from the ice; and 
 
 a controller configured to control power supplied to the heater. 
 
     
     
       24. The ice maker according to  claim 23 , further comprising an ice making fan configured to circulate the chill. 
     
     
       25. The ice maker according to  claim 23 , wherein the controller changes an output of the heater for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       26. The ice maker according to  claim 23 , wherein the controller controls the heater to be turned on or off a plurality of times for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       27. A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body;   a cooler configured to supply cold air; and   an ice-making unit provided inside the main body,   wherein the ice-making unit includes:
 an ice-making container including a plurality of ice-making cells arranged in a single row and configured to accommodate ice-making water; 
 a plurality of ejector rods configured to be aligned with respective ice-making cells and to separate ice from the respective ice-making cells by pushing the ice in the respective ice-making cells; 
 a reinforcing heat insulator provided at an outside of a first ice-making cell of the plurality of ice-making cells to reduce the cold air transmitted to the first ice-making cell; 
 a container support arranged to cover at least a portion of an upper side of the ice-making container; and 
 a heater extending at least partially above and adjacent to each of the plurality of ice-making cells and configured to supply heat to the plurality of ice-making cells, 
 wherein the reinforcing heat insulator is provided immediately adjacent the first ice-making cell which is an end cell of the plurality of ice-making cells, but is not provided immediately adjacent a second cell of the plurality of ice-making cells. 
   
     
     
       28. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the ice-making unit further includes
 a temperature sensor provided to detect a temperature of the ice-making water supplied to the plurality of ice-making cells.   
     
     
       29. The refrigerator of  claim 28 , further comprising a controller provided to control the heater, the temperature sensor, and a timer,
 wherein the controller is configured to turn on the timer based on the temperature of the ice-making water detected by the temperature sensor reaching a reference temperature.   
     
     
       30. The refrigerator of  claim 29 , wherein the controller is configured to turn on the heater with a preset output at a preset time after the timer is turned on. 
     
     
       31. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the ice-making unit further includes:
 a rotation driver configured to supply power; and   the plurality of ejector rods configured to receive the power from the rotation driver and separate pieces of ice of the plurality of ice-making cells from the plurality of ice-making cells.   
     
     
       32. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the container support is mounted with a cup that supplies the ice-making water to one of the plurality of ice-making cells,
 wherein the cup supplies the ice-making water to an ice-making cell adjacent to a lower end of the cup among the plurality of ice-making cells.   
     
     
       33. The refrigerator of  claim 32 , wherein the ice-making container is provided such that the ice-making water supplied from the cup passes through the ice-making cell adjacent to the lower end of the cup and flows to another ice-making cell adjacent to the ice-making cell adjacent to the lower end of the cup. 
     
     
       34. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein each of the plurality of ice-making cells of the ice-making container includes a hemispherical inner circumferential surface. 
     
     
       35. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the heater is inserted into a predetermined groove that extends along a direction in which the plurality of ice-making cells are arranged. 
     
     
       36. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a fan provided to cause the cold air supplied from the cooler to flow;   a cold air supply duct arranged at a rear side of the main body; and   a cold air exhaust port configured to exhaust the cold air from the cold air supply duct into the main body,   wherein the ice-making unit is arranged at a front side of the cold air exhaust port.   
     
     
       37. The refrigerator of  claim 36 , wherein the reinforcing heat insulator is mounted on the outside of the ice-making cell adjacent to the cold air exhaust port. 
     
     
       38. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the ice-making unit further includes an ice-separating guide that extends downward with respect to one side of the ice-making container, the ice-separating guide including a cold air hole provided to allow the cold air to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       39. The refrigerator of  claim 38 , wherein the cold air hole has a size smaller than a size of the ice to prevent the ice from passing through the cold air hole. 
     
     
       40. The refrigerator of  claim 38 , wherein the container support and the ice separating guide are formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
       41. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the heater rotates with respect to a predetermined axis when pieces of ice of the plurality of ice-making cells are separated from the plurality of ice-making cells. 
     
     
       42. The refrigerator of  claim 41 , further comprising a controller provided to control the heater,
 wherein the controller is configured to turn off the heater before the separating of the pieces of ice of the plurality of ice-making cells from the plurality of ice-making cells.   
     
     
       43. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , further comprising a rotation driver configured to supply power,
 the heater rotates with respect to a predetermined axis by receiving the power from the rotation driver when pieces of ice of the plurality of ice-making cells are separated from the plurality of ice-making cells.   
     
     
       44. The refrigerator of  claim 43 , wherein the ice-making unit further includes an injector configured to separate the pieces of ice of the plurality of ice-making cells from the plurality of ice-making cells by receiving the power from the rotation driver when the heater is rotated. 
     
     
       45. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the second cell is not an end cell of the plurality of ice-making cells. 
     
     
       46. The refrigerator of  claim 45 , wherein the first and second cells are arranged linearly in the plurality of cells. 
     
     
       47. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein a third cell of the plurality of ice-making cells is located between the first cell and the second cell of the plurality of ice-making cells. 
     
     
       48. The refrigerator of  claim 47 , wherein the first, second and third cells are arranged linearly. 
     
     
       49. The refrigerator of  claim 47 , wherein the first, second and third cells are arranged linearly and are configured to be overlapped by an elongated support that supports the plurality of ejector rods. 
     
     
       50. The refrigerator of  claim 49 , wherein the ejector rods are heater rods. 
     
     
       51. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the second cell is adjacent the first cell in the plurality of ice-making cells, so that no other cell of the plurality of ice-making cells is located between the first cell and the second cell. 
     
     
       52. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the reinforcing heat insulator does not entirely surround the first cell as viewed from above. 
     
     
       53. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the reinforcing heat insulator is provided at only one side of the first cell. 
     
     
       54. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the first cell is closer to a cold air supply than is the second cell. 
     
     
       55. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the reinforcing heat insulator is provided immediately adjacent the first ice-making cell which is an end cell of the plurality of ice-making cells, but is not provided immediately adjacent a second cell of the plurality of ice-making cells, so that ice forming is more uniform across the plurality of ice-making cells. 
     
     
       56. The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the heater includes a first wire and a second wire disposed parallel to the first wire.