Ice Maker and Refrigerator Having Same

Abstract

An ice maker and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; an ice maker in the storage room; and a controller, wherein the ice maker includes: an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the controller drives the rotation unit at least to prevent super-cooling before the water in the ice tray freezes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body having a storage room therein;   a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room;   an ice maker in the storage room; and   a controller, wherein the ice maker includes:
 an ice tray configured to contain water; 
 a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; 
 an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and 
 a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein 
 the controller drives the rotation unit at least to prevent super-cooling before the water in the ice tray freezes. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker further includes a temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the water in the ice tray. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller drives the rotation unit to prevent super-cooling when the temperature of the water reaches a super-cooling prevention temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the super-cooling prevention temperature is greater than 0° C. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the super-cooling prevention temperature is 3 to 6° C. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation unit includes:
 an ice removing shaft above the ice tray and having one or more ice removing prominences; and   a drive or a drive housing connected to the ice removing shaft, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller drives the rotation unit so that the one or more ice removing prominences contact the water, until the one or more ice removing prominences come out of the water. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the water has a temperature exceeding 0° C. when the controller drives the rotation unit. 
     
     
         9 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body having a storage room therein;   a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room;   an ice maker in the storage room; and   a controller, wherein the ice maker includes:
 an ice tray configured to contain water; 
 a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; 
 an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; 
 a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket; and 
 a vibration unit capable of applying a vibration to the ice tray. 
   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein the rotation unit includes:
 an ice removing shaft above the ice tray and having one or more ice removing prominences; and   a drive or a drive housing connected to the ice removing shaft, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 10 , comprising the drive housing, wherein the vibration unit is in the drive housing. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein the ice maker further includes a temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the water in the ice tray. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller drives the vibration unit when the temperature of the water reaches a super-cooling prevention temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 13 , wherein the super-cooling prevention temperature is greater than 0° C. 
     
     
         15 . An ice maker comprising:
 an ice tray configured to contain water;   a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air;   an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion;   a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket; and   a vibration unit capable of applying a vibration to the ice tray.   
     
     
         16 . The ice maker according to  claim 15 , wherein the rotation unit includes:
 an ice removing shaft above the ice tray and having one or more ice removing prominences; and   a drive or a drive housing connected to the ice removing shaft, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft.   
     
     
         17 . The ice maker according to  claim 16 , comprising the drive housing, wherein the vibration unit is located in the drive housing. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker according to  claim 16 , wherein the vibration unit comprises a motor configured to generate the vibration.