Abstract:
The present disclosure describes ice tray devices and methods. In one embodiment, ice tray is included in an ice-making device of a refrigerator. The ice tray can be configured to uniformly distribute water to a plurality of ice-making spaces included in the ice tray. The ice tray can include water supply grooves that provide paths through which water is allowed to flow in the tray body. The dimensions of the water supply grooves can vary enabling control of water and ice formation depth of the water supply grooves can become gradually larger from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0086166, filed on Jun. 17, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an ice tray for an ice-making device of a refrigerator. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A refrigerator is an apparatus for storing food at a relatively low temperature and may be configured to store food in a frozen state or a refrigerated state. A decision to store food in a frozen state or refrigerated state may depend on the kind of food to be stored. 
         [0004]    The interior of the refrigerator is cooled by supplied cold air, in which the cold air is typically generated by a temperature exchange action of a refrigerant according to a cooling cycle including compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator can be distributed in the refrigerator by convection. Thus, items within the refrigerator can be stored at a desired temperature. 
         [0005]    A refrigerator typically includes a main body having a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open front side. A refrigerating compartment (e.g.; refrigerating space, portion, room, etc.) and a freezing compartment (e.g.: freezing space, portion, room, etc.) may be provided within the main body. A refrigerating compartment door and a freezing compartment door for selectively closing and opening the refrigerator compartment and the freezing compartment may be provided on the front side or surface of the main body. A plurality of drawers, shelves and container boxes for storing different kinds of food in a desired state may be provided in the internal storage spaces of the refrigerating compartment and freezing compartment. 
         [0006]    Conventionally, mainstream refrigerators are top-mount-type refrigerators having a freezing compartment positioned at an upper side or portion of the refrigerator and a refrigerating compartment positioned at the lower side or portion of the refrigerator. There are also commercially available bottom-freeze-type refrigerators. Bottom-freeze-type refrigerators can enhance user convenience in which a more frequently-used refrigerating compartment is positioned at an upper portion of the refrigerator and a less frequently used freezing compartment is positioned at a lower portion of the refrigerator. This provides an advantage in that a user can conveniently use the refrigerating compartment. However, the bottom-freeze-type refrigerators (in which the freezing compartment is positioned at the lower portion or side) can pose an inconvenience when a user does access the freezing compartment, in that a user typically has to bend at the waist to open the freezing compartment door (e.g., to take out pieces of ice, food, etc.). 
         [0007]    Traditional attempts at solving the above problem in the bottom freeze type refrigerators have included an ice dispenser installed in the refrigerating compartment or refrigerating compartment door in some implementations. In this approach, the refrigerating compartment door or the inside of the refrigerating compartment may be provided with an ice maker which generates ice. 
         [0008]    The ice-making device may include an ice-making assembly provided with an ice tray for producing pieces of ice (e.g., in various shapes including cubes, cylindrical, semi-spherical, etc.), an ice bucket which stores the pieces of ice, and a feeder assembly which feeds the pieces of ice stored in the ice bucket to the dispenser. 
         [0009]    Conventional ice trays attempt to retain water in a plurality of ice-making spaces. The ice-making spaces are formed on the upper surface of a tray body. A water supply port capable of distributing water to the ice-making spaces is formed on one surface of the tray body. Water distribution grooves are formed between the ice-making spaces. Thus, the ice-making spaces are connected to one another in an attempt to allow water to flow between the ice-making spaces. However, traditional ice trays often do not adequately supply water to each of the ice making spaces. 
         [0010]    Since the main body of the conventional refrigerator is often inclined at an angle with respect to the floor surface, traditional ice trays in the refrigerator are also typically inclined at a similar angle. Thus, water in the ice-making spaces of the ice tray cannot smoothly move through the water supply grooves of the ice tray. This poses a problem in that the amount of water supplied to the ice-making spaces of the ice tray is not uniform. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, if the amount of water supplied to the ice tray is not uniform, there is a problem in that the size of the ice pieces produced in the ice tray becomes non-uniform. As a result, ice pieces may not be produced in some of the ice-making spaces. The size of ice pieces produced in some of the ice-making spaces may be too small. Furthermore, in conventional approaches where a temperature sensor for detecting generation of ice pieces is provided on one surface of the ice tray, there is a problem in that the temperature sensor may not accurately detect generation of ice pieces. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    The present disclosure describes ice tray devices and methods. In one embodiment, ice tray is included in an ice-making device of a refrigerator. In one exemplary implementation, the ice tray is configured to uniformly distribute water to a plurality of ice-making spaces included in the ice tray. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, an ice tray comprises: a tray body configured to provide ice-making spaces for retaining water; and a plurality of partition walls. The plurality of partition walls include: a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a threshold. The first side wall extends by a predetermined length from one side surface of the tray body toward each of the ice-making spaces. The second sidewall extends by a predetermined length from the other side surface of the tray body toward each of the ice-making spaces, the second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall by a predetermined distance. The threshold extends upward from a bottom surface of the tray body to interconnect a lower portion of the first sidewall and a lower portion of the second sidewall. The length of the thresholds extends upward from the bottom surface of the tray body gradually decreases from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body. 
         [0014]    The length of the first sidewalls extending from one side surface of the tray body may gradually increase from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body. The length of the second sidewalls extending from the other side surface of the tray body may gradually increase from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body. The first sidewalls, the second sidewalls and the thresholds can define a plurality of water supply grooves which allow water to flow between the ice-making spaces. The depth of the water supply grooves may grow larger from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body. 
         [0015]    The width of the water supply grooves can grow smaller from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body, and the water supply grooves are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the tray body so as to have a substantially equal cross-sectional area. A reference line through upper end portions of the thresholds extending upward from the bottom surface of the tray body can form a second angle with respect to the bottom surface of the tray body. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, a refrigerator comprises: a main body configured to constitute an outer shell and obliquely installed at a first angle with respect to a floor surface so that the other end portion of the main body is disposed higher than one end portion of the main body; and an ice-making device configured to produce ice pieces. The ice-making device include an ice tray configured to include ice-making spaces capable of retaining water and phase-transformed into ice pieces. The ice tray includes: a tray body configured to provide ice-making spaces for retaining water; and a plurality of partition walls. The plurality of partition walls include: a first sidewall extending by a predetermined length from one side surface of the tray body toward each of the ice-making spaces; a second sidewall extending by a predetermined length from the other side surface of the tray body toward each of the ice-making spaces, the second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall by a predetermined distance; and a threshold extending upward from a bottom surface of the tray body to interconnect a lower portion of the first sidewall and a lower portion of the second sidewall, wherein the length of the thresholds extending upward from the bottom surface of the tray body gradually decreases from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing an ice tray comprises: injection-molding a molding material into a tray body of an ice tray which includes a plurality of ice-making spaces; and forming water supply grooves that provide paths through which water is allowed to flow in the tray body, so that the depth of the water supply grooves becomes gradually larger from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body. The water supply grooves are formed so that the width of the water supply grooves grows smaller from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body. The water supply grooves are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the tray body so as to have a substantially equal cross-sectional area. 
         [0018]    Forming the water supply grooves can include forming a plurality of partition walls. The plurality of partition walls include: a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a threshold. The first side wall extends by a predetermined length from one side surface of the tray body toward each of the ice-making spaces. The second sidewall extends by a predetermined length from the other side surface of the tray body toward each of the ice-making spaces, the second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall by a predetermined distance. The threshold extends upward from a bottom surface of the tray body to interconnect a lower portion of the first sidewall and a lower portion of the second sidewall. The length of the thresholds extends upward from the bottom surface of the tray body gradually decreases from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body. The tray body can be configured to include ice-making spaces for retaining water. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a refrigerator including an ice tray of an ice-making device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating a state in which the refrigerator illustrated in  FIG. 1  is obliquely installed with respect to a floor surface with the refrigerator doors capable of self closing. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an ice-making device provided in the refrigerator illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the ice-making device illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an ice tray of an ice-making device for a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a view for explaining a structure by which water is supplied to the ice tray illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an ice tray of an ice-making device for a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
         [0027]    One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be easily understood by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. 
         [0028]    It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in their sizes, and a predetermined size is just exemplificative and not limitative. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics. 
         [0029]    The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include a modification of a form by manufacturing. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a refrigerator including an ice tray of an ice-making device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating a state in which the refrigerator illustrated in  FIG. 1  is obliquely installed with respect to a floor surface with the doors kept closed. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the refrigerator  1  according to the present embodiment may include a main body  2  which constitutes an outer shell, a barrier  4  which divides food storage spaces (e.g., compartments, portions, rooms, etc.) formed within the main body  2 . One food storage space includes an upper refrigerating compartment R and another food storage space includes a lower freezing compartment F. Refrigerating compartment doors  3  are provided on the opposite edges of the front surface of the main body  2  and configured to selectively open and close the refrigerating compartment R by the rotational movement of the refrigerating space doors  3 . Freezing compartment door  5  is configured to open and close the front opening portion of the freezing compartment F by the movement of the freezing compartment door  5 . In the one example implementation, an ice-making device  20  is provided in a region on one side of the upper portion of the refrigerating compartment R. The ice-making device  20  may be installed in other positions of the refrigerating compartment R or in one of the refrigerating compartment doors  3 . 
         [0032]    The main body  2  may be installed on a floor surface G through adjustable legs  6 . The adjustable legs  6  are provided in a plural number on the bottom surface of the main body  2  and may support the main body  2  in the positions between the floor surface G and the main body  2 . Each of the adjustable legs  6  may include a height adjusting screw  6   a . The height of the main body  2  from the floor surface G may be adjusted by tightening or loosening the height adjusting screw  6   a . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the main body  2  may be lifted up by the adjustable legs  6  so that the front end portion of the main body  2  is positioned higher than the rear end portion thereof. As a result, the main body  2  is inclined at a predetermined angle (hereinafter referred to as a “first angle θ 1 ”) from the front end portion of the main body  2  toward the rear end portion thereof. In one embodiment, even if a user does not push the refrigerating room doors  3  closed after opening them, the refrigerating room doors  3  are rotated backward about hinges H and are automatically closed. This enables a user to conveniently use the refrigerator. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an ice-making device provided in the refrigerator illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the ice-making device illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the ice-making device  20 , including the ice tray  10  according to one embodiment, is capable of uniformly supplying water to the ice-making spaces  13  of the ice tray  10 . The ice-making device  20  may include a body or case  100 , a cooling unit (not illustrated) configured to cool the interior of the case  100 , an ice-making assembly  200  to which the ice tray  10  can be mounted, an ice bucket  320  in which pieces of ice produced in the ice tray  10  are stored, and a feeder assembly  400  configured to feed the pieces of ice from the ice bucket  320 . 
         [0035]    A cooling space  105  including ice tray  10  in which pieces of ice can be produced is formed within the case  100 . The ice-making assembly  200  may be disposed at or within an upper portion of the cooling space  105 . 
         [0036]    The cooling unit is used to cool the cooling space  105 . The cooling unit can cool the ice tray  10  by generating a cold air and supplying the generated cold air to the ice tray  10 , or by bringing a cooling pipe (e.g., which can include a low-temperature refrigerant) into contact with the lower side of the ice tray  10 . The cooling unit may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, which can form a cooling cycle. The cold air may be supplied by a blower or the like to the ice tray  10  via an ejection duct  310  and a cold air guide unit  220 . In one embodiment, the cold air is supplied to the cooling space  105 . 
         [0037]    The ice-making assembly  200  may include an ice tray  10 , a water supply unit  210  configured to supply water to the ice tray  10 , a cold air guide unit  220  configured to guide the flow of the cold air so that the cold air supplied from the cooling unit moves along the lower surface of the ice tray  10 , and a rotary unit  230  configured to drop the pieces of ice produced in the ice tray  10  into the ice bucket  320  located below the ice tray  10   
         [0038]    The water supply unit  210  is configured to supply water to the ice tray  10 . The water supply unit  210  may include a feeder pipe  211  coupled to a water supply (e.g., supply tank, a tap water pipeline, etc.) and is configured to feed water to the ice-making assembly  200 . Water supply unit  210  may also include a water supply guide member  212  configured to guide the water fed from the feeder pipe  211  to the ice tray  10 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the ice tray of the ice-making device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 6  is a view for explaining a structure by which water is supplied to the ice tray illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the ice tray  10  includes ice-making spaces  13  in which water is phase-transformed into ice pieces. The shape of the ice pieces produced in the ice-making spaces  13  may correspond to the shape of the ice-making spaces  13 . Specifically, the ice tray  10  includes a tray body  11  having a upper surface on which a plurality of ice-making spaces  13  for retaining water are formed, and a plurality of partition walls  12  extending upward from a bottom surface of the tray body  11 , the partition walls  12  disposed between the ice-making spaces  13  to define the ice-making spaces  13 . 
         [0041]    Each of the partition walls  12  may include a first sidewall  12   a  extending by a predetermined length from one side surface of the tray body  11  toward each of the ice-making spaces  13 , a second sidewall  12   c  extending by a predetermined length from the other side surface of the tray body  11  toward each of the ice-making spaces  13 , the second sidewall  12   c  spaced apart from the first sidewall  12   a  by a predetermined distance, and a threshold  12   b  extending upward from a bottom surface of the tray body  11  to interconnect a lower portion of the first sidewall  12   a  and a lower portion of the second sidewall  12   c.    
         [0042]    The first sidewalls  12   a , the second sidewalls  12   c  and the thresholds  12   b  may divide the tray body  11  into the ice-making spaces  13  and may define a plurality of water supply grooves which allow water to flow through the water supply grooves between the ice-making spaces  13 . The tray body  11  may include a water supply port  15  which is an entrance through which the water supplied by the water supply unit  210  can be introduced. Accordingly, the water supplied to the ice tray  10  may fill the water supply grooves. As a result, the ice pieces produced in the ice tray  10  may include not only ice piece or cube portions corresponding to the ice-making spaces  13  but also connection portions (hereinafter referred to as “water supply groove bridges”) having the shape of the water supply grooves which interconnect the ice-making spaces  13 . 
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the longitudinal end portion of the tray body  11  at which the water supply port  15  is provided is referred to as one end portion of the tray body  11 . The longitudinal end portion of the tray body  11  opposite to one end portion will be referred to as the other end portion of the tray body  11 . In one embodiment, when the ice tray  10  is disposed in the ice-making device  20 , one end portion of the tray body  11  is arranged at the side of the rear end portion of the refrigerator  1 . 
         [0044]    In one exemplary implementation, the length of the first sidewalls  12   a  extending from one side surface of the tray body  11  may gradually increase from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion. Similarly, the length of the second sidewalls  12   c  extending from the other side surface of the tray body  11  may gradually increase from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion thereof. The length of the thresholds  12   b  extending upward from the bottom surface of the tray body  11  may gradually decrease from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an imaginary or reference line through upper end portions of the thresholds  12   b  extending upward from the bottom surface of the tray body  11  may make a second angle θ 2  with respect to the bottom surface of the tray body  11 . The second angle θ 2  may be equal to or larger than the first angle θ 1  at which the main body  2  of the refrigerator  1  is inclined. 
         [0045]    The width of the water supply grooves defined by the first sidewalls  12   a , the second sidewalls  12   c  and the thresholds  12   b  may grow smaller from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion of the tray body  11 . The depth of the water supply grooves defined by the first sidewalls  12   a , the second sidewalls  12   c  and the thresholds  12   b  may grow larger from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion of the tray body  11 . In one exemplary implementation, the water supply grooves may be disposed along the longitudinal direction of the tray body  11  so as to have a substantially equal cross-sectional area. 
         [0046]    The ice tray  10  may be made of a metal having high heat conductivity (e.g., aluminum, etc.). As the heat conductivity of the ice tray  10  grows higher, it becomes possible for the ice tray  10  to improve the heat exchange rate of water and the cold air. In one embodiment, the ice tray  10  may serve as a heat exchanger. Cooling ribs  16  for increasing the contact area of the ice tray  10  with the cold air may be provided on the lower surface of the ice tray  10 . 
         [0047]    A temperature sensor  17  capable of detecting the temperature of the ice tray  10  may be provided on the front surface of the ice tray  10 . If the temperature of the ice tray  10  detected by the temperature sensor  17  falls within a predetermined range, a control unit (not illustrated) determines that ice pieces have been generated in the ice tray  10 . If it is determined that ice pieces have been generated, the control unit may drive the rotary unit  230  to drop the ice pieces into the ice bucket  320 . 
         [0048]    The cold air guide unit  220  guides the cold air supplied from the cooling unit toward the lower side of the ice tray  10 . The cold air guide unit  220  may be coupled to the ejection duct  310  which is a path through which the cold air is supplied from the cooling unit. The cold air guide unit  220  may include cold air guide members  221  and  222  which are coupled to at least one surface of the ejection duct  310 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the cold air guide unit  220  may include a first cold air guide member  221  extending from the upper surface of the ejection duct  310  and a second cold air guide member  222  extending from the lower surface of the ejection duct  310 . 
         [0049]    The cold air guided by the cold air guide members  221  and  222  can move toward the lower surface of the ice tray  10 . As the cold air exchanges heat with the ice tray  10 , the water retained in the ice tray  10  may be phase-transformed into ice pieces. 
         [0050]    The rotary unit  230  may include a motor  232 , a rotation shaft  231  coupled to the ice tray  10  and rotated by the motor  232 , and a motor housing  233  configured to include the motor  232 . 
         [0051]    The ice pieces may be dropped by the rotary unit  230  into the ice bucket  320  disposed below the ice tray  10 . Specifically, by virtue of the rotation of the rotation shaft  231 , the ice tray  10  may be rotated so that the upper surface of the ice tray  10  faces toward the ice bucket  320 . If the ice tray  10  is rotated at a specific angle or more, the ice tray  10  is twisted by an interference member (not illustrated). Due to this twisting action, the ice pieces accommodated in the ice tray  10  may be dropped into the ice bucket  320 . 
         [0052]    Alternatively, a plurality of ejectors (not illustrated) may be provided along the longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft  231 . In this case, the ice tray  10  is not rotated and the ice pieces may be taken out from the ice tray  10  by the rotation of the ejectors of the rotation shaft  231 . 
         [0053]    Furthermore, an ice release heater  240  may be provided in the ice tray  10  so that the ice release heater  240  can heat the ice tray  10  during or prior to the rotation of the rotation shaft  231 . By the heating action of the ice release heater  240 , the surfaces of the ice pieces accommodated in the ice tray  10  may be melted and separated from the ice tray  10 . 
         [0054]    The feeder assembly  400  may include an auger  410  and an auger motor  420  which are configured to feed the ice pieces toward an ejection part  600 . The auger  410  may be a rotating member having a screw or a spiral blade. The auger  410  is rotated by the auger motor  420 . The auger  410  is disposed within the ice bucket  320 . The ice pieces stacked in the ice bucket  320  may be inserted into the groove defined by the screw or the blade and may be fed toward the ejection part  600 . The auger motor  420  may be accommodated within an auger motor housing  2   430 . 
         [0055]    The ejection part  600  may be coupled to a dispenser (not illustrated) provided in one of the refrigerating room doors  3 . Depending on the user&#39;s choice, the ice pieces fed by the feeder assembly  400  may be dispensed to a user through the dispenser. While not illustrated in the drawings, a cutting member configured to cut the water supply groove bridges to obtain ice cubes having a predetermined size may be provided in the ejection part  600 . 
         [0056]    Next, descriptions will be made on the actions and effects of the ice tray of an ice-making device for a refrigerator, the method of manufacturing an ice tray of an ice-making device for a refrigerator and the refrigerator including an ice tray of an ice-making device according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         [0057]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating the method of manufacturing an ice tray according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0058]    An ice tray molding material such as aluminum or the like may be injection-molded into the tray body  11  of the ice tray  10  having the ice-making spaces  13  (step S 100 ). The water supply grooves may be formed in the tray body  11  of the ice tray  10  so that the depth of the water supply grooves becomes gradually larger from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion thereof (step S 200 ). In one exemplary illustration or drawing of the tray body  11 , the water supply grooves may be formed so that an imaginary line or reference line through upper end portions of the thresholds  12   b  which define the water supply grooves may form a second angle θ 2  with respect to the bottom surface of the tray body  11 . That is to say, the water supply grooves may form a second angle θ 2  with respect to the bottom surface of the tray body  11  and may grow deeper from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion of the tray body  11 . In one exemplary implementation, the water introduced into the tray body  11  through the water supply port  15  disposed in one end portion of the tray body  11  may smoothly move toward the other end portion of the tray body  11  along the water supply grooves which grow deeper from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion. 
         [0059]    The water supply grooves may be formed so that the depth thereof grows larger and the width thereof grows smaller from one end portion of the tray body  11  toward the other end portion. In one embodiment, the water supply grooves may have a substantially equal cross-sectional area. When the water filled in the water supply grooves is phase-transformed into ice, the portions of ice corresponding to the water supply grooves may have a substantially equal cross-sectional area and, therefore, may exhibit uniform strength against the cutting action substantially performed by the cutting member. 
         [0060]    In the case where the ice tray  10  is provided in the refrigerator  1  obliquely installed at the first angle θ 1  with respect to the floor surface G by the adjustable legs  6 , the amounts of water supplied to the ice-making spaces  13  formed along the longitudinal direction of the ice tray  10  may become uniform, because the second angle θ 2  is equal to or larger than the first angle θ 1 . 
         [0061]    If the water supply is completed by the water supply unit  210 , the cold air generated by the actions of the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the evaporator is supplied to the cooling space  105  through the ejection duct  310 . The supplied cold air may freeze the water contained in the ice tray  10  disposed within the cooling space  105 . 
         [0062]    The cold air moves along the lower surface of the ice tray  10  and exchanges heat with the lower surface of the ice tray  10 , thereby freezing the water contained in the ice tray  10  into ice pieces. Thereafter, due to the rotation of the rotation shaft  231 , the ice pieces may be dropped down and may be staked in the ice bucket  320 . 
         [0063]    As described above, in the ice tray  10  according to the present embodiment, the water supply grooves positioned farther from the water supply port are formed to have a gradually increasing depth so that a reference line or an imaginary connection line through upper end portions of the thresholds  12   b  which define the water supply grooves may make a predetermined angle with respect to the bottom surface of the tray body  11 . This enables water to move smoothly through the water supply grooves. As a result, even when the ice tray  10  is installed in a refrigerator so that the other end portion of the ice tray  10  is higher than one end portion thereof with respect to the floor surface G, water may be uniformly supplied to the ice-making spaces  13 . 
         [0064]    Since water is uniformly supplied to the ice tray  10 , the temperature sensor  17  may accurately detect the temperature of the ice tray  10  regardless of the installation position of the temperature sensor  17  in the ice tray  10 . This makes it possible to accurately track the generation or formation of ice pieces. 
         [0065]    Although exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure. 
         [0066]    Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0067]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure.