# US 11,029,070 B2 · Ice maker and refrigerator including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,070 B2 - Document ID: US11029070B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/135,677 - Filed: 2018-09-19 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-20 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Donghoon Lee; Seungseob Yeom; Donghoon Lee; Wookyong Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029070B2 ## CPC - F25C 5/22: {particularly adapted for household refrigerators} - F25C 1/04: by using stationary moulds - F25C 1/24: for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays - F25C 5/08: by heating bodies in contact with the ice - F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures} - F25D 25/021: {combined with trays} - F25D 25/027: {Rotatable shelves} - F25C 2305/024: Rotating rake - F25C 2400/04: Ice guide, e.g. for guiding ice blocks to storage tank - F25C 2400/10: Refrigerator units - F25C 2600/02: Timing - F25D 2317/061: through special compartments - F25D 2317/063: with air guides - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract An ice maker includes an ice tray, an ejector configured to rotate with respect to the ice tray and cause rotation of ice pieces, and a motor configured to drive the ejector to rotate relative to the ice tray. The ice tray includes a first guide rib located at a lower portion of the ice tray and configured to exchange heat with cool air supplied from a cool air inlet, and a second guide rib located at the lower portion of the ice tray and arranged at a center region of the lower portion of the ice tray. The ice tray defines a first area including the first guide rib, and a second area including both of the first and second guide ribs, where the first area of the ice tray is located closer to the cool air inlet than the second area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ice maker comprising: an ice tray configured to receive water; a cool air guide located vertically below the ice tray and configured to supply cool air to the ice tray, the cool air guide comprising: a body located below a lower portion of the ice tray, a cool air inlet located at a side of the body and configured to receive cool air, and an opening portion that is defined at an upper side of the body facing the lower portion of the ice tray; an ejector that is configured to rotate with respect to the ice tray, that is configured to cause rotation of ice pieces with respect to the ice tray, and that is configured to discharge the ice pieces from the ice tray; and a motor configured to drive the ejector to rotate relative to the ice tray, wherein the lower portion of the ice tray includes: a plurality of first guide ribs that are located above a lower end of a side surface of the ice tray, that face the opening portion, and that extend in a first direction, the plurality of first guide ribs being configured to exchange heat with cool air that is supplied from the cool air inlet in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and a plurality of second guide ribs that extend below the lower end of the side surface of the ice tray, that protrude downward relative to the plurality of first guide ribs toward the opening portion, and that extend in the second direction, wherein the ice tray defines, at the lower portion of the ice tray, a first area that includes a first portion of the plurality of first guide ribs, and a second area that includes a second portion of the plurality of first guide ribs and the plurality of second guide ribs, wherein a number of the second guide ribs in the first area of the ice tray is less than a number of the second guide ribs in the second area of the ice tray, wherein the first area of the ice tray is arranged next to the second area and located closer to the cool air inlet than the second area, and wherein the cool air guide is configured to supply cool air received from the cool air inlet to the plurality of first guide ribs and the second guide ribs through the opening portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the ice tray further includes a third guide rib that is located at the lower portion of the ice tray, that extends in the second direction, and that is arranged outward of the second guide ribs in the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ice maker according to claim 2, wherein the third guide rib is one of a plurality of third guide ribs that are located at ends of one of the plurality of first guide ribs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first guide ribs are arranged with a constant interval in the second direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein each of the second guide ribs connects two of the plurality of first guide ribs to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ice maker according to claim 5, wherein the second guide ribs are offset from one another in the first direction and allow flow of cool air in the second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the ice tray further includes a fourth guide rib that protrudes from a front surface of the ice tray and that extends in a vertical direction with respect to the lower portion of the ice tray. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ice maker according to claim 7, wherein the ice tray further defines a third area that includes the fourth guide rib at the front surface of the ice tray, the third area being adjacent to the cool air inlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ice maker according to claim 8, wherein the ice tray further defines a fourth area that has a flat surface at the front surface of the ice tray without the fourth guide rib, and wherein the third area of the ice tray is located closer to the cool air inlet than the fourth area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The ice maker according to claim 7, wherein the fourth guide rib comprises a plurality of fourth guide ribs, wherein a first portion of the plurality of fourth guide ribs extend in the vertical direction by a first length, and wherein a second portion of the plurality of fourth guide ribs extend in the vertical direction by a second length that is different from the first length. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the upper side of the body is covered such that a length of the opening portion in the second direction is less than a length of the upper side of the body in the second direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion has a first end that faces the cool air inlet, and a second end that is spaced apart from the first end in the second direction, and wherein the body comprises sidewalls that surround the opening portion and that block the first end and the second end of the opening portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ice maker according to claim 12, wherein the lower end of the side surface of the ice tray is configured to face the sidewalls of the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the ice tray further comprises a plurality of third guide ribs that are located at ends of each of the plurality of first guide ribs, the ends of each of the plurality of first guide ribs being spaced apart from each other in the first direction, wherein the second guide ribs are absent between the plurality of third guide ribs in the first area, wherein the second guide ribs are disposed between the plurality of third guide ribs in the second area, and wherein a number of the second guide ribs arranged between a first pair of the plurality of third guide ribs in the second area is less than a number of the second guide ribs arranged between a second pair of the plurality of third guide ribs in the second area. ### Claim 15 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet that defines a refrigerating compartment; a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close at least a portion of the refrigerating compartment; an ice maker located at the refrigerating compartment door and configured to generate ice, the ice maker comprising an ice tray configured to receive water; and a cool air guide located vertically below the ice maker and configured to supply cool air to the ice maker, the cool air guide comprising: a body located below a lower portion of the ice tray, a cool air inlet located at a side of the body and configured to receive cool air, and an opening portion defined at an upper side of the body facing the lower portion of the ice tray, wherein the ice maker further includes: an ejector that is configured to rotate with respect to the ice tray, that is configured to cause rotation of ice pieces with respect to the ice tray, and that is configured to discharge the ice pieces from the ice tray, and a motor configured to drive the ejector to rotate relative to the ice tray, wherein the lower portion of the ice tray includes: a plurality of first guide ribs that are located above a lower end of a side surface of the ice tray, that face the opening portion, and that extend in a first direction, and a plurality of second guide ribs that extend below the lower end of the side surface of the ice tray, that protrude downward from the lower portion of the ice tray toward the opening portion, and that extend in a second direction transverse to the first direction, wherein the cool air guide is configured to supply cool air in the second direction, wherein the ice tray defines, at the lower portion of the ice tray, a first area that includes a first portion of the plurality of first guide ribs, and a second area that includes a second portion of the plurality of first guide ribs and the plurality of second guide ribs, wherein a number of the second guide ribs in the first area of the ice tray is less than a number of the second guide ribs in the second area of the ice tray, and wherein the first area of the ice tray is arranged next to the second area and located closer to the cool air inlet than the second area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the upper side of the body is covered such that a length of the opening portion in the second direction is less than a length of the upper side of the body in the second direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the ice tray further includes a plurality of third guide ribs that are located at the lower portion of the ice tray, that extend in the second direction, and that are arranged at sides of the ice tray. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the ice tray further includes a fourth guide rib that is located at a front surface of the ice tray and that extends in a vertical direction with respect to the lower portion of the ice tray. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The refrigerator according to claim 15, further comprising a dispenser located at the refrigerating compartment door and configured to discharge ice pieces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the ice tray defines a plurality of ice making spaces based on partitioning an inner space of the ice tray, and wherein the ice tray includes a protrusion portion that is located in a respective ice making space and that protrudes from an inner surface of the respective ice making space, the inner surface being configured to contact an ice piece.