Refrigerator

Abstract

The refrigerator according to the present invention comprises: a storage compartment for storing food; a cooler for supplying cold to the storage compartment; a first tray assembly forming a part of ice-making cells which are where water changes phase to ice due to the cold; a second tray assembly forming the other part of the ice-making cells; a heater located adjacently to the first tray assembly and/or the second tray assembly; and a control unit for controlling the heater. Any one of the first and second tray assemblies has a greater degree of cold transfer than the other tray assembly.

1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray assembly configured to define a first portion of a cell that is a space in which liquid is phase-changed into ice; and   a second tray assembly configured to define a second portion of the cell,   wherein the first tray assembly comprises:   a first tray part configured to define an appearance of at least a portion of the first tray assembly,   a second tray part formed of a material different from that of the first tray part and defining the first portion of the cell, wherein the first tray part includes a portion having a greater degree of deformation resistance than that of the second tray part, and   a third tray part in contact with the first tray part.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the third tray part has a portion formed of a material different from that of the first tray part. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein a degree of heat transfer or degree of cold transfer of the first tray part is greater than that of the second tray part. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein a degree of attachment between ice and the second tray part is less than a degree of attachment between ice and the first tray part. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the third tray part is disposed to face the second tray assembly in order to contact the second tray assembly or to form a gap with the second tray assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein a degree of deformation resistance of the first tray part is greater than that of the third tray part. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein a degree of heat transfer or degree of cold transfer of the first tray part is greater than that of the third tray part. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein a degree of attachment between ice and the third tray part is less than a degree of attachment between ice and the first tray part. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the third tray part has a portion to surround at least a portion of the first tray part. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first tray part is formed of a metal material, and
 wherein the second tray part and the third tray part are formed of a non-metal material.   
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second tray part is formed of a soft material. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a degree of cold transfer of the first tray assembly is greater than that of the second tray assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray assembly or the second tray assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein the heater is controlled to be turned on in at least partial section while a cooler supplies cold so that bubbles dissolved in the liquid within cell moves from a portion, at which the ice is made, toward the liquid that is in a fluid state to make transparent ice. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second tray assembly is in contact the first tray assembly in an ice making process and is spaced apart from the first tray assembly in the ice separation process. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second tray part includes a cell wall defining the first portion of the cell and an extension wall extended from the cell wall and configured to introduce cold air or the liquid into the cell, and
 the first tray part has a portion in contact with the extension wall or the first tray part has a portion to surround the extension wall.   
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first tray part is disposed between the second tray part and the third tray part. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein first tray part is spaced apart from the first portion of the cell such that the first tray part is not in contact with the liquid or the ice in the cell. 
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second tray part includes an opening to allow cold air or the liquid to be supplied to the cell and a guide to guide the cold air or the liquid to the cell. 
     
     
         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 1 .