Ice maker and refrigerator including same

Abstract

An ice maker may include a first tray for defining one portion of the ice-making cell, a second tray for defining the other portion of the ice-making cell, a heater for providing heat to the second tray, and a heater case having the heater coupled thereto. In an ice-making process, at least one portion of the heater case may move along with the second tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a tray configured to define a portion of the cell, the cell being configured to form a space in which a liquid is phase changed to ice;   a heater configured to provide heat to the tray; and   a heater case in which the heater is provided,   a pusher including a first edge having a surface pressing the ice or the tray so that the ice is easily separated from the tray, a bar extending from the first edge, and a second edge disposed at an end of the bar, the pusher being controlled so that a position of the pusher is changed by moving at least one of the pusher or the tray,   wherein the tray comprises a first section seated on a tray supporter; a second section seated on the heater case, the second section being different from the first section; a third section to be pressed by the pusher, the third section being different from the first section and the second section.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heater case is fixed to the tray supporter by a bolt. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a bolt including a portion coupled to the tray supporter,
 wherein the portion of the bolt is coupled to the tray supporter by a screw thread.   
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling groove formed in the heater case, and a bolt disposed in the coupling groove. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein when the pusher deforms the tray, the third section of the tray is configured to move in a direction away from the heater. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein when the pusher deforms the tray, a distance between the heater and the third section of the tray is configured to increase. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional tray including a tray wall configured to define another portion of the cell. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 7 , further comprising a tray cover disposed at one side of the additional tray, and an additional tray supporter disposed at the other side of the additional tray,
 wherein the tray cover, the additional tray, and the additional tray supporter are coupled.   
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 7 , further comprising a bracket supporting the tray wall of the additional tray directly or indirectly. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 7 , further comprising a lever connected to a driver and a bracket,
 wherein the lever includes a first portion coupled to the driver and a second portion coupled to the bracket   
     
     
         11 . An ice maker comprising:
 a tray configured to define a portion of the cell, the cell being configured to form a space in which a liquid is phase changed to ice;   a heater configured to provide heat to the tray; and   a heater case in which the heater is provided,   wherein the tray comprises a first section seated on a tray supporter; a second section seated on the heater case, the second section being different from the first section.   
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein the heater case is fixed to the tray supporter by a bolt. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , further comprising a bolt including a portion coupled to the tray supporter,
 wherein the portion of the bolt is coupled to the tray supporter by a screw thread.   
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , further comprising a coupling groove formed in the heater case, and a bolt disposed in the coupling groove. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , further comprising a pusher including a bar,
 wherein when the pusher deforms the tray, a portion of the tray is configured to move in a direction away from the heater.   
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , further comprising a pusher including a bar,
 wherein when the pusher deforms the tray, a distance between the heater and a portion of the tray is configured to increase.   
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , further comprising an additional tray including a tray wall configured to define another portion of the cell. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 17 , further comprising a tray cover disposed at one side of the additional tray, and an additional tray supporter disposed at the other side of the additional tray,
 wherein the tray cover, the additional tray, and the additional tray supporter are coupled.   
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 17 , further comprising a bracket supporting the tray wall of the additional tray directly or indirectly. 
     
     
         20 . The ice maker of  claim 17 , further comprising a lever connected to a driver and a bracket,
 wherein the lever includes a first portion coupled to the driver and a second portion coupled to the bracket.