Ice tray apparatus and method

Abstract

In one embodiment an ice tray is manufactured using a material having higher thermal conductivity, hardness, and elongation than those of aluminum. A time or duration to complete making the ice may be shortened. The material can include copper alloy. The material can have an antibiotic effect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice tray comprising:
 a tray main body including a material having higher thermal conductivity, hardness, and elongation than aluminum, the tray main body having an inner space configured to hold water, an upper surface of the tray main body being open; and   a plurality of partitions included in the tray main body and configured to partition the inner space into a plurality of formation spaces.   
     
     
         2 . The ice tray of  claim 1 , wherein the material is a copper alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The ice tray of  claim 1 , wherein the material is brass. 
     
     
         4 . The ice tray of  claim 1 , wherein the brass material has an antibacterial effect. 
     
     
         5 . The ice tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray main body is thinner than another tray main body made of aluminum. 
     
     
         6 . The ice tray of  claim 1 , wherein the copper alloy has thermal conductivity of approximately 0.94 (cal/cm 2 /sec/° C.). 
     
     
         7 . The ice tray of  claim 1 , wherein cooling ribs that increase an area configured to contact cold air are formed on a bottom portion of the tray main body. 
     
     
         8 . The ice tray of  claim 1 , wherein a heater is coupled to a bottom portion of the tray main body, the heater is operable to transfer heat so as to make ice to ease ice removal from the plurality of formation spaces. 
     
     
         9 . The ice tray of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the ice tray is coated. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing an ice tray, comprising:
 injecting a copper alloy material in a melted state into a mold for forming the ice tray provided with a plurality of formation spaces in which an upper surface is open;   cooling the mold into which the copper alloy material in the melted state is injected; and   separating the ice tray from the mold.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the copper alloy material is brass. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising coating a surface of the ice tray that is separated from the mold. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the copper alloy material in a melted state becomes solid through the cooling of the mold. 
     
     
         14 . An ice machine for a refrigerator, comprising:
 a copper alloy ice tray which receives cold air and generates ice;   an ice separation member which drops the ice that is generated in the ice tray; and   an ice bucket arranged on a lower side of the ice tray so as to contain the ice that is dropped from the ice tray.   
     
     
         15 . The ice tray of  claim 15 , wherein the copper alloy is brass. 
     
     
         16 . The ice tray of  claim 15 , wherein the brass material has an antibacterial effect. 
     
     
         17 . The ice tray of  claim 15 , wherein the tray main body is thinner than another tray main body made of aluminum. 
     
     
         18 . The ice tray of  claim 15 , wherein cooling ribs that increase an area configured to contact cold air are formed on a bottom portion of the tray main body. 
     
     
         19 . The ice tray of  claim 15 , wherein a heater is coupled to a bottom portion of the tray main body, the heater is operable to transfers heat so as to make ice to ease ice removal from the plurality of formation spaces. 
     
     
         20 . The ice tray of  claim 15 , wherein a surface of the ice tray is coated.