Ice maker and refrigerator comprising same

Abstract

An ice maker, may include a first tray forming a part of a plurality of ice-making cells; a second tray forming another part of the plurality of ice-making cells; and a heater arranged on the first tray or the second tray, wherein the heater supplies heat to the plurality of ice-making cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a tray configured to define a cell that is a space in which a liquid introduced to the space is phase-changed into ice;   a heater configured to supply heat to the cell; and   a heater case to which the heater is coupled,   wherein the heater includes:   a first portion disposed on the heater case and contacting the heater case; and   a second portion contacting the tray, the first portion and the second portion being arranged in a first direction, and   wherein the heater case includes a guide extending in the first direction, and configured to fix the heater to the heater case.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heater has a portion positioned between the tray and the heater case. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the guide is positioned between the tray and the heater case. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a pusher having at least one column and configured to separate the ice from the cell, the column having an end with at least an edge,
 wherein the heater case includes an opening through which the pusher passes.   
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the tray includes:
 a first tray configured to define a first portion of the cell;   a second tray configured to define a second portion of the cell.   
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 5 , wherein the first tray includes a first contact surface contacting the second tray, and the second tray includes a second contact surface contacting the first contact surface of the first tray, the first contact surface contacting the second contact surface at an ice making position. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a tray cover provided on the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a tray cover maintaining an outer appearance of the tray. 
     
     
         9 . An ice maker comprising:
 a tray configured to define a cell that is a space in which a liquid introduced to the space is phase-changed into ice;   a heater configured to supply heat to the cell; and   a heater case to which the heater is coupled,   wherein the heater is disposed between the tray and the heater case, and   the heater includes a first surface contacting the tray and a second surface contacting the heater case, the first surface being spaced apart from the second surface in a first direction.   
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the heater case includes a guide extending in the first direction between the first surface of the heater and the second surface of the heater, and configured to fix the heater to the heater case. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 10 , wherein the heater includes a third surface positioned between the first surface of the heater and the second surface of the heater, and contacting the guide. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 10 , wherein the guide is positioned between the tray and the heater case. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , further comprising a pusher having at least one column and configured to separate the ice from the cell, the column having an end with at least an edge,
 wherein the heater case includes an opening through which the pusher passes.   
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , further comprising a tray cover provided on the tray. 
     
     
         15 . An ice maker comprising:
 a tray configured to define a cell that is a space in which a liquid introduced to the space is phase-changed into ice;   a heater configured to supply heat to the cell, and being a wire type heater with a thickness in a first direction; and   a heater case to which the heater is coupled,   wherein the heater has a portion positioned between the heater and the heater case, and   wherein the heater case includes a guide extending in the first direction between the heater and the heater case, and configured to fix the heater to the heater case.   
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 15 , further comprising a pusher having at least one column and configured to separate the ice from the cell, the column having an end with at least an edge,
 wherein the heater case includes an opening through which the pusher passes.   
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 15 , further comprising a tray cover provided on the tray. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber configured to store food;   a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and   the ice maker according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber configured to store food;   a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and   the ice maker according to  claim 9 .   
     
     
         20 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber configured to store food;   a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and   the ice maker according to  claim 15 .