Refrigerator

Abstract

The refrigerator according to the present invention may comprise: a first tray assembly forming a part of ice-making cells; and a second tray assembly forming the other part of the ice-making cells. In order that ice can be produced in the direction of ice-making cells formed by any one of the first and second tray assemblies to ice-making cells formed by the other tray assembly, following the start of an ice-making process, the one tray assembly comprises a first part, and the first part comprises: a first surface forming a part of the ice-making cells; and a first deformation-resistant reinforcement part extending from the first surface in the vertical direction away from a heater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray assembly having a portion of a cell;   a second tray assembly having another portion of the cell, the portion and the another portion of the cell being configured to define a space of the cell to receive a liquid to be phase-changed to form ice;   an ice separation heater configured to supply heat in at least period of an ice separation process; and   a transparent ice heater configured to supply heat in at least period of an ice making process,   wherein one of the first or the second tray assemblies comprises a first portion, the first portion comprising:   a first surface defining a portion of the cell, and   a first deformation resistance reinforcement wall extending from the first surface in a direction away from the transparent ice heater.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall extends from the first surface in a direction of Z axis away from the transparent ice heater, and the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly are arranged in the direction of Z axis. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed farther from the transparent ice heater than the ice separation heater. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein an end surface of the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed closer to the ice separation heater than the transparent ice heater. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the first or the second tray assemblies includes:
 a tray having the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall, and   a tray case configured to surround the tray,   wherein the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a surface supported by the tray case or in contact with the tray case, and   wherein the surface of the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed closer to the ice separation heater than the transparent ice heater.   
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a surface supported by a bracket or in contact with the bracket, and
 Wherein the surface of the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed closer to the ice separation heater than the transparent ice heater.   
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a surface that faces another of the first and second tray assemblies, and
 wherein the surface of the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed closer to the ice separation heater than the transparent ice heater.   
     
     
         8 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray assembly having a portion of a cell;   a second tray assembly having another portion of the cell, the portion and the another portion of the cell being configured to define a space of the cell to receive a liquid to be phase-changed to form ice;   an ice separation heater configured to supply heat in at least period of an ice separation process; and   a transparent ice heater configured to supply heat in at least period of an ice making process,   wherein one of the first or the second tray assemblies comprises a first portion and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion, and the second portion comprises a second deformation resistance reinforcement wall.   
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall extends from the first surface in a direction of Z axis away from the transparent ice heater, and the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly are arranged in the direction of Z axis. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed farther from the transparent ice heater than the ice separation heater. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein an end surface of the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed closer to the ice separation heater than the transparent ice heater. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the one of the first or the second tray assemblies includes:
 a tray having the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall, and   a tray case configured to surround the tray,   wherein the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a surface supported by the tray case or in contact with the tray case, and   wherein the surface of the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed closer to the ice separation heater than the transparent ice heater.   
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a surface supported by a bracket or in contact with the bracket, and
 wherein the surface of the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed closer to the ice separation heater than the transparent ice heater.   
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the first deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a surface that faces another of the first and second tray assemblies, and
 wherein the surface of the second deformation resistance reinforcement wall includes a portion disposed closer to the ice separation heater than the transparent ice heater.   
     
     
         15 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray assembly having a portion of a cell;   a second tray assembly having another portion of the cell, the portion and the another portion of the cell being configured to define a space of the cell to receive a liquid to be phase-changed to form ice;   an ice separation heater configured to supply heat in at least period of an ice separation process; and   a transparent ice heater configured to supply heat in at least period of an ice making process,   wherein one of the first or the second tray assemblies is spaced further apart from the transparent ice heater than an other of the first or the second tray assemblies, and   wherein a minimum value of a degree of deformation resistance of the one of the first or the second tray assemblies is greater than that of the other of the first or the second tray assemblies.   
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 15 , further comprising a bracket defining at least a portion of a space that accommodates the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly,
 wherein the one of the first or the second tray assemblies includes a deformation resistance reinforcement wall, and   wherein the bracket includes a support surface on which the deformation resistance reinforcement wall is supported.   
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 15 , wherein the one of the first or the second tray assemblies includes a tray and a tray case being a separate component from the tray, and
 wherein the tray case includes a portion contacting the deformation resistance reinforcement wall.   
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet including a storage chamber;   a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and   an ice maker of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet including a storage chamber;   a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and   an ice maker of  claim 8 .   
     
     
         20 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet including a storage chamber;   a door that opens and closes the storage chamber; and   an ice maker of  claim 15 .