Ice maker and refrigerator comprising same

Abstract

An ice maker includes a first tray forming part of an ice-making cell; a second tray forming another part of the ice-making cell; and a heater which is disposed so as to be adjacent to the first or the second tray, wherein the heater operates during a period when cold air is supplied to the first tray and the second tray and ice making takes place, and supplies heat to the first tray and/or the second tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker, comprising:
 a cell having a space in which a liquid introduced into the space is phase-changed into ice, the cell being formed in the ice maker; and   a tray configured to form the cell,   wherein the tray includes a tray wall having a first surface to define the cell and a second surface to define an outer surface of the tray wall,   the first surface and the second surface define a thickness of the tray wall, and   the second surface includes:
 a first portion, 
 a second portion extended from the first portion in a direction away from the cell, and 
 a third portion extended from the second portion in a direction close to the cell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a component adjacent to at least one of the second portion or the third portion. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 2 , wherein the component includes a heater to supply heat to the cell. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 3 , wherein the heater is in contact with the second portion. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 2 , further comprising a cover configured to cover the component. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion has a curved portion and the cover is in contact with the curved portion of the first portion. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 2 , further comprising a fourth portion extended from the third portion wherein the component is spaced apart from the fourth portion. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises:
 a first tray configured to form a portion of the cell, and   a second tray configured to form another portion of the cell and including the tray wall.   
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the first tray and the second tray are arranged in a first direction, and
 at least a portion of the second portion extends in a second direction crossing the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the third portion extends in the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , further comprising a fourth portion extended from the third portion in a direction close to the first tray. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the first tray and the second tray are arranged in a first direction, and
 a distance between a portion of the first portion and the first tray in the first direction is greater than a distance between the second portion and the first tray in the first direction.   
     
     
         13 . An ice maker, comprising:
 a cell having a space in which a liquid introduced into the space is phase-changed into ice, the cell being formed in the ice maker; and   a tray configured to form the cell,   wherein the cell includes first and second cells that are arranged in a first direction,   wherein the tray includes:
 a tray wall to define the first cell and the second cell, and 
 a protrusion extended outward from the tray wall, and 
   wherein at least a portion of the protrusion is disposed between the first cell and the second cell.   
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , further comprising a component adjacent to the protrusion. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the component is disposed between the first cell and the second cell. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein the component includes a heater to supply heat to the tray. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , further comprising a cover configured to cover the component. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein the tray comprises:
 a first tray configured to form a portion of the cell, and   a second tray configured to form another portion of the cell and including the tray wall, and   wherein the first tray and the second tray are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction.   
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 18 , wherein the tray wall includes a first outer surface corresponding to the first cell, and
 a distance between a portion of the first outer surface and the first tray in the second direction is greater than a distance between an end of the protrusion and the first tray in the second direction.   
     
     
         20 . The ice maker of  claim 18 , wherein the tray wall includes a first outer surface corresponding to the first cell, and
 wherein the first outer second surface includes:
 a first portion, 
 a second portion extended from the first portion in a direction away from the cell, and 
 a third portion extended from the second portion in a direction close to the cell.