Ice maker for refrigerator and assembly method thereof

Abstract

A method for assembling an ice maker for a refrigerator includes receiving an ice tray having a seat portion and an attaching portion, receiving a heater to which an elastic attaching member is attached, placing one end of the heater against the seat portion of the ice tray, moving the heater so that the heater and the attaching portion come into contact with each other, and rotating the heater so that the elastic attaching member of the heater comes into contact with the ice tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assembling an ice maker for a refrigerator, comprising:
 receiving an ice tray having a seat portion and an attaching portion;   receiving a heater to which an elastic attaching member is attached;   placing one end of the heater against the seat portion of the ice tray;   moving the heater so that the heater comes into contact with the attaching portion; and   rotating the heater so that the elastic attaching member of the heater comes into contact with the ice tray.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 attaching a driving portion to the ice tray; and   inserting the elastic attaching member that is attached to the heater through an opening of the driving portion.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding caulking between the heater and the attaching portion of the ice tray. 
     
     
         4 . An ice maker for a refrigerator, comprising:
 an ice tray configured to generate ice;   a heater configured to apply heat to the ice tray so that the ice is separated from the ice tray;   a seat portion formed on the ice tray to support the heater; and   a heater attaching portion configured to project from a part of the ice tray.   
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , wherein the seat portion is positioned at a bottom surface of the ice tray, a first side wall that is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the ice tray, and a second side wall that is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the ice tray. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 5 , wherein the heater attaching portion extends from the first side wall, and the heater attaching portion that extends from the first side wall is parallel to the bottom surface of the ice tray. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , wherein the heater further comprises an elastic attaching member attached to one end of the heater,
 wherein a part of the elastic attaching member projects outside a surface of the heater to which the elastic attached member is attached.   
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , wherein one end of the heater comes in contact with the heater attaching portion of the ice tray, and further includes caulking between the heater and a portion of the heater attaching portion. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , wherein the ice tray is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , further comprising a driving portion having an opening through which one end of the heater is inserted,
 wherein the driving portion and the ice tray are affixed to each other using an attaching member that is coupled to a side surface of the ice tray.   
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, the refrigerator further comprising:
 an ice maker comprising:
 an ice tray configured to generate ice; 
 a heater configured to apply heat to the ice tray so that the ice is separated from the ice tray; 
 a seat portion formed on the ice tray to support the heater; and 
 a heater attaching portion configured to project from a part of the ice tray. 
   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the seat portion is positioned at a bottom surface of the ice tray, a first side wall that is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the ice tray, and a second side wall that is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the ice tray. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the heater attaching portion extends from the first side wall, and the heater attaching portion that extends from the first side wall is parallel to the bottom surface of the ice tray. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the heater further comprises an elastic attaching member attached to one end of the heater,
 wherein a part of the elastic attaching member projects outside a surface of the heater to which the elastic attached member is attached.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein one end of the heater comes in contact with the heater attaching portion of the ice tray, and further includes caulking between the heater and a portion of the heater attaching portion. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the ice tray is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , further comprising a driving portion having an opening through which one end of the heater is inserted,
 wherein the driving portion and the ice tray are affixed to each other using an attaching member that is coupled to a side surface of the ice tray.