Ice Maker and Refrigerator Having Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same. According to one aspect of the present invention, the refrigerator may include a main body having a storage room; a door on the main body to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room. The ice maker includes an ice tray to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray to form a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and including a container having a center portion that is concave downwards; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket. The rotation unit includes a gear configured to transfer a driving force of a driving motor; and an ice removing shaft configured to receive the driving force of the gear and rotate, the ice removing shaft having a coupling unit in the gear, the coupling unit having a back end with a cross-sectional area larger than that of a front end of the coupling unit.

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; and   an ice maker in the storage room, 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, comprising a container having a center portion that is concave downwards; and 
 a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the rotation unit includes:
 a gear configured to transfer a driving force from a driving motor; and 
 an ice removing shaft configured to receive the driving force of the gear and rotate, wherein the ice removing shaft includes a coupling unit in the gear, the coupling unit having a front end and a back end, and the back end has a cross-sectional area larger than that of the front end. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the gear includes a coupling hole configured to receive the ice removing shaft, and the coupling unit includes a multi-stage shape having a first portion, stage or section and a second portion, stage or section in the coupling hole. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the second portion, stage or section has a cross-sectional area corresponding to the coupling hole, and the first portion, stage or section has a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the second portion, stage or section. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the coupling hole, the first portion, stage or section and the second portion, stage or section have a D shape. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the coupling hole, the first portion, stage or section and the second portion, stage or section have a V shape or nearly a V shape. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the coupling unit comprises a step between the first portion, stage or section and the second portion, stage or section. 
     
     
         7 . An ice maker, comprising:
 a case;   an ice making assembly in the case and configured to make ice; and   an ice bucket configured to contain the ice from the ice making assembly, wherein the ice making assembly includes:
 an ice tray configured to contain water; 
 a guide unit configured to form a path for flowing cold air; and 
 a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the rotation unit includes:
 an ice removing shaft on or above the ice tray, having an end with a multi-stage shape; and 
 a gear coupled to the ice removing shaft, wherein the gear includes a coupling hole corresponding to the multi-stage shape of the ice removing shaft. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The ice maker according to  claim 7 , wherein a portion, stage or section of the multi-stage shape has an area corresponding to the coupling hole. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker according to  claim 8 , wherein the coupling hole and the portion, stage or section of the multi-stage shape have a D shape. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker according to  claim 8 , wherein the coupling hole and the portion, stage or section of the multi-stage shape have a V shape or nearly a V shape. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker according to  claim 8 , wherein the multi-stage shape includes a step.