Icemaker and refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a first tray configured to form a portion of each of a plurality of ice making cells, and a second tray configured to be rotatable with respect to the first tray and to form the other portion of each of the plurality of ice making cells. Water supply is performed at a water supply position of the second tray. When water supply is completed, the second tray is moved to an ice making position. One or more of the first tray and the second tray is provided with a communication hole for communicating the plurality of ice making cells at the ice making position of the second tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray configured to form a first portion of each of a plurality of cells;   a second tray configured to form a second portion of each of the plurality of cells, the first portion and the second portion being configured to form a space in which a liquid is phase-changed into ice; and   a communication passage provided between a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second cell of the plurality of cells, the plurality of cells including the first cell and the second cell,   wherein in an ice making process,   the communication passage is configured to restrict a movement of the liquid between the first cell and the second cell, and   in a case in which supercooling is released in any one of the first and second cells, through the communication passage, an effect of releasing the supercooling in the any one of the first and second cells is transferred to another of the first and second cells.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first tray includes a first contact surface,
 the second tray includes a second contact surface, and   the communication passage is formed in one or more of the first contact surface and the second contact surface.   
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 2 , wherein the communication passage has a semicircle or polygonal cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 2 , wherein the communication passage is formed in the first contact surface to be recessed in a direction away from the second tray. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , wherein a recessed depth of the communication passage is less than a thickness of a portion of the second tray. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , wherein a recessed depth of the communication passage is less than ⅕ of a radius of the second tray. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 2 , wherein the communication passage is formed in the second contact surface to be recessed in a direction away from the first tray. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 7 , wherein a recessed depth of the communication passage is less than a thickness of a portion of the first tray. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 7 , wherein a recessed depth of the communication passage is less than ⅕ of a radius of the first tray. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a first tray cover coupled to the first tray. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 10 , further comprising a first tray supporter coupled to the first tray. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein the first tray supporter has an opening formed to correspond to each cell shape of the first tray. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tray cover having a portion provided at one side of the second tray. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the first tray is received in a space defined by the second tray cover. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tray supporter to received a portion of the second tray. 
     
     
         16 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray configured to form a first portion of each of a plurality of cells;   a second tray configured to form a second portion of each of the plurality of cells, the first portion and the second portion being configured to form a space in which a liquid is phase-changed into ice; and   a communication passage provided between a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second cell of the plurality of cells, the plurality of cells including the first cell and the second cell,   wherein the communication passage is formed in at least one of the first tray or the second tray to be recessed in a direction away from another of the first tray or the second tray, and   a recessed depth of the communication passage is less than a thickness of a portion of the first tray or the second tray such that the communication passage is configured to restrict a movement of the liquid between the first cell and the second cell in an ice making process.   
     
     
         17 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray configured to form a first portion of each of a plurality of cells;   a second tray configured to form a second portion of each of the plurality of cells, the first portion and the second portion being configured to form a space in which a liquid is phase-changed into ice; and   a communication passage provided between a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second cell of the plurality of cells, the plurality of cells including the first cell and the second cell,   wherein the communication passage is formed in at least one of the first tray or the second tray to be recessed in a direction away from another of the first tray or the second tray, and   a recessed depth of the communication passage is less than ⅕ of a radius of the first tray or the second tray such that the communication passage is configured to restrict a movement of the liquid between the first cell and the second cell in an ice making process.   
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet having a storage chamber;   a door that opens and close the storage chamber; and   an ice maker of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet having a storage chamber;   a door that opens and close the storage chamber; and   an ice maker of claim  16 .   
     
     
         20 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet having a storage chamber;   a door that opens and close the storage chamber; and   an ice maker of claim  17 .