Patent Publication Number: US-8534089-B2

Title: Ice maker and refrigerator having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0055627 filed on Jun. 13, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and this application claims the priority benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2008-0076040 filed on Aug. 4, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates to an ice maker of a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a water dispense cup for dispensing water to an ice making tray having ice making cells for producing pieces of ice. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a refrigerator includes a body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment. A compressor and a heat exchanger are installed at a rear portion of the body to compress refrigerant and to produce cold air, respectively. The cold air produced by the heat exchanger is introduced into the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment by a fan and the temperature of cold air may rise while circulating through the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment. Then, the air having the high temperature is heat-exchanged through the heat exchanger, so that the cold air can be introduced again into the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment, thereby keeping foodstuffs stored in the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment in a fresh state. 
     An ice maker is installed in the freezing compartment of the refrigerator and water is automatically dispensed to an ice making tray of the ice maker. If the water is frozen into pieces of ice, the ice pieces are automatically separated from the ice making tray and are stored in an ice storage container. Thus, users can obtain the ice pieces without additionally controlling the refrigerator to make pieces of ice, so that the ice maker is extensively used in these days. 
     The ice maker receives the water from a water dispense cup. The water dispense cup is made from plastic material and is coupled with the ice making tray. The water dispense cup is formed with a water path for dispensing the water to the ice making tray. In addition, water is supplied to the water dispense cup through a water supply pipe, which is disposed above the water dispense cup and connected to a water source at the outside of the refrigerator. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an ice maker of a refrigerator. 
     Additional aspects, features, and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a storage compartment, a storage compartment door to open/close the storage compartment, and an ice maker including an ice making tray to produce ice pieces, and a water dispense cup to dispense water supplied from a water supply pipe to the ice making tray, wherein a water guide section is formed in the water dispense cup to guide the water, which is supplied from the water supply pipe, to a region below the water supply pipe. 
     The ice maker further includes a heater to heat the ice making tray. 
     The ice making tray and the water dispense cup include metal having superior heat conductivity. 
     The ice making tray is integrally formed with the water dispense cup. 
     The ice maker heats the water dispense cup by using heat of the heater that is operated when ice pieces are separated from the ice making tray. 
     The water guide section includes a first inclination surface, which is inclined to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe toward the region below the water supply pipe, and a second inclination surface, which is inclined to allow the water introduced through the first inclination surface to be directed to a water outlet port of the water dispense cup. 
     The water guide section may include a first inclination surface, which is inclined to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe toward the region below the water supply pipe, a second inclination surface, which is inclined to allow the water introduced through the first inclination surface to be directed toward a communication path, and third inclination surface, which is inclined from a rear portion of the water dispense cup toward a water outlet port of the water dispense cup to allow water supplied to the second inclination surface to be directed toward the water outlet port of the water dispense cup. 
     According to another aspect, there is provided an ice maker including an ice making tray to produce ice pieces, and a water dispense cup to dispense water to the ice making tray, wherein a water guide section is formed in the water dispense cup to guide the water, which is supplied from a water supply pipe, to a region below the water supply pipe. 
     The ice maker further includes a heater for heating the ice making tray. 
     The ice making tray and the water dispense cup include metal having superior heat conductivity and the ice making tray is integrally formed with the water dispense cup. 
     The water guide section includes a first inclination surface, which is inclined to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe toward the region below the water supply pipe, and a second inclination surface, which is inclined to allow the water introduced through the first inclination surface to be directed to a water outlet port of the water dispense cup. 
     The ice maker heats the water dispense cup by using heat of the heater that is operated when ice pieces are separated from the ice making tray. 
     The water guide section may include a first inclination surface, which is inclined to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe toward the region below the water supply pipe, a second inclination surface, which is inclined to allow the water introduced through the first inclination surface to be directed toward a communication path, and third inclination surface, which is inclined from a rear portion of the water dispense cup toward a water outlet port of the water dispense cup to allow water supplied to the second inclination surface to be directed toward the water outlet port of the water dispense cup. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a storage compartment, a storage compartment door to open/close the storage compartment, a water supply pipe protruding from the storage compartment door, and an ice maker including an ice making tray including metal having superior heat conductivity, a heater to heat the ice making tray, and a water dispense cup to dispense water supplied from the water supply pipe to the ice making tray, wherein the water dispense cup includes metal having superior heat conductivity, and a water guide section is formed in the water dispense cup to guide the water, which is supplied from the water supply pipe, to a region below the water supply pipe. 
     The ice making tray is integrally formed with the water dispense cup. 
     The water guide section may include a first inclination surface, which is inclined to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe toward the region below the water supply pipe, a second inclination surface, which is inclined to allow the water introduced through the first inclination surface to be directed toward a communication path, and third inclination surface, which is inclined from a rear portion of the water dispense cup toward a water outlet port of the water dispense cup to allow water supplied to the second inclination surface to be directed toward the water outlet port of the water dispense cup. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view schematically showing an ice maker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view showing a water dispense cup of an ice maker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view showing a water dispense cup of an ice maker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a lower portion of a water dispense cup of an ice maker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view schematically showing an ice maker according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a water dispense cup according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements. Exemplary embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same, capable of preventing ice or pieces of ice from being accumulated in a water dispense cup due to the drop of water remaining in a water supply pipe into the water dispense cup after the water has been supplied into the ice maker. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator body  10  having a storage compartment  11  therein. A front part of the refrigerator body  10  is open. The storage compartment  11  formed in the refrigerator body  10  is divided into a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment by an intermediate wall  13 . 
     In addition, a storage compartment door  30  is installed at the front part of the refrigerator body  10  to open/close the storage compartment  11 . 
     A pair of liners  32  are longitudinally installed at both sides of the inner wall of the storage compartment door  30  such that a plurality of door guards  33  can be installed between the liners  32  to store foodstuffs. 
     An ice maker  100  is installed between a pair of liners  32 , which are provided at an upper portion of the storage compartment door  30 , in order to make pieces of ice. An ice storage container  60  is positioned below the ice maker  100 . The ice pieces made by the ice maker  100  are dropped into the ice storage container  60  and then transferred to a dispenser (not shown) by an ice convey device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ice maker  100  includes an ice making tray  110  for producing the ice pieces. The ice making tray  110  is made from a metal having superior heat conductivity, such as aluminum, and has a semi-circular cylindrical shape having a semi-circular section. 
     Ice making cells  112  having semi-circular shapes are provided between partition walls  111  provided in the ice making container  110 . Water supplied to the ice making cell  112  is introduced into adjacent ice making cells  112  through a water path  111   a.    
     An ejector  120  is provided at an upper portion of the partition walls  111 . The ejector  120  includes a plurality of scrapers  123 , which are provided on a rotating shaft  121  while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in order to discharge the ice pieces from each ice making cell  112 . 
     A heater  130  is installed below the ice making tray  110 . The heater  130  heats the bottom surface of the ice making tray  110  such that the ice pieces can be easily separated from the ice making cells  112  by the ejector  120 . 
     The heater  130  may include an electric heating medium that generates heat upon receiving electric power or the like. The heater  130  heats the bottom surface of the ice making tray  110  before the ejector  120  is operated, so that the ice pieces can be easily separated from the ice making tray  110  by the ejector  120 . 
     A tray cover  150  is installed in front of the ice making tray  110 . The tray cover  150  includes an ice guide  151  for guiding the ice pieces discharged by the ejector  120  into the ice storage container  60  and a level protector  153  for protecting an ice detection lever  140 . The lever protector  153  is formed with perforation holes  154  to allow cold air to pass therethrough. 
     A water dispense cup  200  is provided at one side of the ice making tray  110  to dispense water to the ice making cells  112 . A water supply pipe  160  is installed above the water dispense cup  200 . The water supply pipe  160  extends from the refrigerator body  10  to the storage compartment door  30  and an end portion of the water supply pipe  160  is exposed out of the storage compartment door  30  and extends into the water dispense cup  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the water dispense cup  200  has a substantially box shape and is integrally formed with the ice making tray  110  at the upper edge portion of one side wall of the ice making tray  110 . In addition, the water dispense cup  200  is made from aluminum, which is identical to the material for the ice making tray  110 , such that heat generated from the heater  130  installed between the ice making tray  110  can be easily transferred to the water dispense cup  200 . The water dispense cup  200  prevents water discharged from the water supply pipe  160  from being splashed in various directions. Water remaining in the tip of the water supply pipe  160  may be dropped into the water dispense cup  200  so that ice may be formed in the water dispense cup  200  after the water has been supplied into the ice maker  100 . However, according to the present invention, heat of the heater  130  is transferred to the water dispense cup  200  so that the ice formed in the water dispense cup  200  can be melted. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the water dispense cup  200  is integrally formed with the ice making tray  110 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the ice making tray  110  can be prepared separately from the water dispense cup  200 . In this case, the ice making tray  110  is coupled with the water dispense cup  200  by using a coupling member (not shown). 
     An upper surface of the water dispense cup  200  is open to receive the water from the water supply pipe  160 . In addition, a cavity is formed in the water dispense cup  200  to temporarily store the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  and a water outlet port  201  is formed at one side of the water dispense cup  200 . The water outlet port  201  communicates with the ice making cells  112  such that the water contained in the water dispense cup  200  can be introduced into the ice making cells  112 . According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the water outlet port  201  is formed at a rear portion of the ice making tray  110 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the water outlet port  201  can be formed at a lateral portion or a front portion of the ice making tray  110 . 
     A partition wall  203  is provided in the water dispense cup  200  to prevent water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  from being directly introduced into the water outlet port  201 . That is, the partition wall  203  includes a water guide section  210  that extends from one sidewall of the water dispense cup  200 , which is opposite to the water supply pipe  160 , toward the water supply pipe  160  to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  into a region located below the tip of the water supply pipe  160 , and a water discharge section  215  for discharging the water supplied from the water guide section  210  toward the water outlet port  201 . A communication path  205  is provided between the water guide section  210  and the water discharge section  215 . 
     The bottom surface of the water dispense cup  200  is inclined such that the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  can be completely introduced into the ice making cells  112 . 
     That is, the water guide section  210  includes a first inclination surface  211 , which is inclined toward the rear portion of the water dispense cup  200  such that the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  can be guided toward the region below the water supply pipe  160 , and a second inclination surface  213 , which is inclined from the right to the left of the water dispense cup  200  such that the water introduced through the first inclination surface  211  can be directed toward the communication path  205 . In addition, the water discharge section  215  includes a third inclination surface  217 , which is inclined from the rear portion of the water dispense cup  200  toward the water outlet port  201  such that the water introduced through the second inclination surface  213  can be directed toward the water outlet port  201 . Therefore, the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  may flow through the first to third inclination surfaces  211 ,  213  and  217  formed at the bottom surface of the water dispense cup  200 , so that the water may not be collected in the water dispense cup  200 . 
     In addition, the water supply pipe  160 , which extends into the water dispense cup  200 , is located above the second inclination surface  213  of the water dispense cup  200 . In this case, even if the water remaining in the tip of the water supply pipe  160  is dropped onto the second inclination surface  213  of the water dispense cup  200  after the water has been supplied to the ice maker  100 , the water may flow to the water outlet port  201  through the second and third inclination surfaces  213  and  217 . In addition, even if the second inclination surface  213  is frozen due to the cold air, since the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  is introduced into the second inclination surface  213  through the first inclination surface  213 , ice or pieces of ice accumulated on the second inclination surface  213  can be discharged together with the water, so that ice or pieces of ice can be prevented from being accumulated in the water dispense cup  200 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a water dispense cup coupled with the ice making tray according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the water outlet port  201  of the water dispense cup  200  is formed at the lateral side of the ice making tray  110 . 
     The water dispense cup  200  is fabricated through an injection molding process by using plastic material and is coupled to the lateral side of the ice making tray  110 . In addition, the water dispense cup  200  can be made from metal having superior heat conductivity and can be integrally formed with the ice making tray  110 . 
     Only the water guide section  210  is formed in the water dispense cup  200  to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  to the water outlet port  201 . 
     The water guide section  210  includes a first inclination surface  211 , which is inclined from the front portion to the rear portion of the water dispense cup  200  to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  toward the region below the water supply pipe  160 , and a second inclination surface  213 , which is inclined from the right to the left of the water dispense cup  200  such that the water introduced through the first inclination surface  211  can be directed to the water outlet port  201  formed at the lateral side of the water dispense cup  200 . 
     The water supply pipe  160  is located above the second inclination surface  213  in adjacent to the left part of the water dispense cup  200 . Thus, as indicated by an arrow, the water supplied from the water supply pipe  160  flows along the right part of the first inclination surface  211 . Then, the water flows from the right part to the left part of the second inclination surface  213 , so that ice or ice pieces formed on the water dispense cup  200  due to the water dropped onto the water dispense cup  200  from the water supply pipe  160  can be discharged together with the water. Thus, ice or ice pieces can be prevented from being accumulated in the water dispense cup  200 . 
     Although few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.