Refrigerator and method of manufacturing ice maker therefor

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an ice maker comprises: a main body having a cooling space supplied with the cold air generated by a cooling module; an ice making assembly comprising an ice tray arranged in the cooling space to generate ice and a rotation module configured for rotating at least one of the ice tray and rotating an ejector for ejecting the ice from the ice tray; an ice bucket disposed at a lower side of the ice making assembly configured to receive the ice from the ice tray; a transfer assembly configured for transferring the ice collected in the ice bucket to an ice discharge module; and a full ice detection module configured for detecting whether the ice bucket is full of the ice. The full ice detection module comprises: a first sensor mounted to the rotation module configured to emit light; a reflective element coupled to the transfer assembly and configured to reflect the light emitted from the first sensor; and a second sensor coupled to the rotation module and spaced apart from the first sensor by a predetermined distance to allow detection of the light reflected by the reflective element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a case comprising a food storage space;   a cooling module comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator and configured to generate cold air;   a door disposed on the case to shield the food storage space; and   an ice maker installed in at least one of the food storage space and the door,   wherein the ice maker comprises:   a main body having a cooling space for receiving the cold air generated by the cooling module;   an ice making assembly comprising: an ice tray disposed in the cooling space to generate ice; and a rotation module configured for rotating at least one of the ice tray and an ejector for ejecting the ice from the ice tray;   an ice bucket disposed at a lower side of the ice making assembly to receive the ice from the ice tray;   a transfer assembly configured for transferring the ice collected in the ice bucket to an ice discharge module; and   a full ice detection module configured for detecting whether the ice bucket is full of the ice, and   wherein the full ice detection module comprises:   a first sensor coupled to the rotation module and configured to emit light;   a reflective element coupled to the transfer assembly and configured to reflect the light emitted from the first sensor; and   a second sensor coupled to the rotation module, wherein the second sensor is spaced apart from the first sensor by a predetermined distance to allow detection of the light reflected by the reflective element.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the light emitted from the first sensor is refracted through the reflective element and is then received by the second sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a cold air guide module disposed at a lower side of the ice tray and configured to guide the cold air supplied from the cooling module to the lower side of the ice tray. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is inserted into a first mounting portion disposed in a lower portion of the rotation module, and the second sensor is inserted into a second mounting portion disposed in the lower portion of the rotation module, wherein the second mounting portion being spaced apart from the first mounting portion by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer assembly comprises:
 an auger configured for transferring the ice;   an auger motor configured for driving the auger; and   an auger motor housing configured for coupling of the auger motor, and   wherein the reflective element is coupled to the auger motor housing.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the reflective element are coupled at diagonal points on a rectangular portion of a plane formed by a back surface of the ice tray extending toward the transfer assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the second sensor and the reflective element are mounted at diagonal points on the rectangular portion of the plane formed by the back surface of the ice tray extending toward the transfer assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the light emitted from the first sensor moves along a zigzag path between the first sensor, the reflective element, and the second sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflective element is detachably coupled to the transfer assembly by a third mounting portion disposed in the transfer assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein the third mounting portion comprises a slot into which the reflective element can be slidably inserted. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing an ice maker for a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 manufacturing an ice making assembly, an ice bucket, and a transfer assembly forming an ice maker;   coupling a first and a second sensor of a full ice detection module to a rotation module of the ice making assembly;   coupling a reflective element of the full ice detection module to an auger motor housing of the transfer assembly, wherein the full ice detection module is configured for detecting whether the ice bucket is full of ice;   adjusting positions of the first and second sensors coupled to the rotation module and a position of the reflective element coupled to the auger motor housing to optically couple the first sensor, the reflective element, and the second sensor; and   assembling the transfer assembly to a side of the ice bucket and assembling the ice making assembly to an upper side of the ice bucket.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the ice making assembly comprises an ice tray disposed above the ice bucket; and   the first sensor, the reflective element, and the second sensor are coupled in a zigzag arrangement at diagonal points on a rectangular portion of a plane formed by a back surface of the ice tray extending toward the transfer assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the reflective element is detachably coupled to the auger motor housing. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for making ice, the apparatus comprising:
 a main body having a cooling space configured for receiving cold air generated by a cooling module;   an ice making assembly comprising: an ice tray disposed in the cooling space to generate ice; and a rotation module configured for rotating at least one of the ice tray and an ejector for ejecting the ice from the ice tray;   an ice bucket disposed at a lower side of the ice making assembly to receive the ice from the ice tray;   a transfer assembly configured for transferring the ice collected in the ice bucket to an ice discharge module; and   a full ice detection module configured for detecting whether the ice bucket is full of the ice, wherein the full ice detection module comprises:   a first sensor coupled to the rotation module and configured to emit light;   a reflective element coupled to the transfer assembly and configured to reflect the light emitted from the first sensor; and   a second sensor coupled to the rotation module, wherein the second sensor disposed to allow detection of the light reflected by the reflective element.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the light emitted from the first sensor is refracted through the reflective element and is then received by the second sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the ice making assembly further comprises a cold air guide module disposed at a lower side of the ice tray and configured to guide the cold air supplied from the cooling module to the lower side of the ice tray. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the first sensor is inserted into a first mounting portion disposed in a lower portion of the rotation module, and the second sensor is inserted into a second mounting portion disposed in the lower portion of the rotation module, the second mounting portion being spaced apart from the first mounting portion by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the light emitted from the first sensor moves along a zigzag path between the first sensor, the reflective element, and the second sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the reflective element is detachably coupled to the transfer assembly by a third mounting portion disposed in the transfer assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the third mounting portion has a slot into which the reflective element can be slidably inserted.