Refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same. A refrigerator may include a main body having a storage room therein; a compressor at one side of the main body, configured to compress refrigerant; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; an ice maker in the storage room; and a controller. 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, including a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket. The controller drives the rotation unit after the compressor has been operated for a preset time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body having a storage room therein;   a compressor at one side of the main body, configured to compress refrigerant;   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, and 
   the controller drives the rotation unit after the compressor has been operated for a preset time.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the preset time is from 30 to 60 minutes. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker further includes a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water in the ice tray. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller drives the rotation unit after the preset time elapses and the temperature of the water in the ice tray is lower than an ice removing start temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the ice removing start temperature is less than 0° C. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the ice removing start temperature is −5 to −13° C. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body having a storage room therein;   a compressor at one side of the main body, configured to compress refrigerant;   a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room;   an ice maker in the storage room;   a valve in a water supply pipe, configured to supply water to the ice maker; and   a controller, wherein the ice maker includes:
 an ice tray configured to contain the 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 temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water in the ice tray; and 
 a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, and 
   the controller drives the rotation unit when the compressor has operated from a time of opening the valve to a preset time and the temperature of the water in the ice tray is lower than an ice removing start temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein when the temperature of the water in the ice tray is lower than the ice removing start temperature, the controller determines whether a time that the compressor has operated has reached the preset time. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the preset time is from 30 to 60 minutes. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating an ice maker in a refrigerator, comprising:
 guiding flowing cold air under an ice tray in the ice maker to solidify water in the ice tray to ice;   operating a compressor of the refrigerator for a preset time; and   driving a rotation unit in the ice maker after the compressor has been operated for a preset time to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising supplying the water to the ice tray by opening a valve in a water line of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the preset time is a time from opening the valve to the ice in the ice tray reaching a preset temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sensing a temperature of the water and/or ice in the ice tray using a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rotation unit is driven after the temperature of the water and/or ice in the ice tray reaches the preset temperature.