# US 2021/0341202 A1 · Icemaker and refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0341202 A1 - Document ID: US20210341202A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/281,972 - Filed: 2019-10-02 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-02 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Donghoon LEE; Yongjun BAE; Wookyong LEE; Donghoon LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210341202A1 ## CPC - F25C 1/18: of a particular transparency or translucency, e.g. by injecting air - F25C 5/22: {particularly adapted for household refrigerators} - F25C 1/04: by using stationary moulds - F25C 5/08: by heating bodies in contact with the ice - F25C 2400/10: Refrigerator units - F25C 2400/14: Water supply - F25C 2500/02: Geometry problems - F25C 2700/14: Temperature of water - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE ## Abstract A refrigerator according to the present disclosure 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, in which water supply is performed at the water supply position of the second tray, when water supply is completed, the second tray is moved to the ice making position, and 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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 be rotatable with respect to the first tray and to form a second portion of each of the plurality of cells, each of the first and second portions forming a space in which liquid is phase-changed to ice, the second tray configured to move to a first position and a second position, the first position being a position where the first portion and the second portion are spaced from each other and the second position being a position where the first and second portions contact each other; at least one communication passage provided between adjacent cells, wherein, when the second tray is moved to the second position, the plurality of cells are isolated from each other except through the communication passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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 at least one of the first contact surface or the second contact surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ice maker of claim 3, wherein the second tray is provided below the first tray in the second position, and the communication passage is recessed in an upward direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ice maker of claim 5, wherein the second tray is provided below the first tray in the second position, and is the communication passage is recessed in a downward direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The ice maker of claim 2, wherein, at the water first position, the second contact surface is at least partially spaced apart from the first contact surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ice maker of claim 7, wherein, at the first position, the second contact surface is completely spaced apart from the first contact surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The ice maker of claim 2, wherein, at the second position, the first contact surface at least partially contacts the second contact surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the communication passage has a semicircular or polygonal cross sectional shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the communication passage is provided at a position aligning with centers of each of the plurality of ice making cells. ### Claim 12 A refrigerator comprising: a storage chamber; a cooler configured to supply cold air; a first tray configured to form a first portion of each of a plurality of cells; and a second tray configured to be rotatable with respect to the first tray and to form a second portion of each of the plurality of cells, the first and second portions being configured to form a space in which liquid is phase-changed into ice, the second tray configured to move to a first position and a second position, the first position being a position where the first portion and the second portion are spaced from each other and the second position being a position where the first and second portions contact each other; a liquid supply is configured to supply liquid to the space when the second tray is provided at the first position; and at least one communication passage provided between adjacent cells wherein, when the second tray is moved to the second position, the plurality cells are isolated except through the communication passage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The ice maker of claim 9, wherein, at the first position, the first contact surface contacts the second contact surface except at a position where the communication passage is formed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells includes three cells, and the at least one communication passage includes two communication passages aligned on a horizontal center line of the three cells. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the communication passage is configured such that, when the second tray is at the second position and liquid is provided in the spaces of each of the cells, a supercooling effect occurring in one space of one cell among the plurality of cells will be transferred, via the at least one communication passage, to the remaining spaces of the remaining cells among the plurality of cells. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the communication passage has a size configured to allow propagation of freezing nuclei from one cell among the plurality of cells to another cell among the plurality of cells. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the second tray includes an extension extending from the second portion toward the first tray such that, at the first position, the extension contacts the first tray to prevent an overflow of liquid supplied to the space of the cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The ice maker of claim 17, wherein: the first tray includes a first contact surface, the second tray includes a second contact surface configured to contact the first contact surface at the position, wherein the extension extends beyond the second contact surface, and the communication passage is formed in at least one of the first contact surface or the second contact surface. ### Claim 19 An ice maker, comprising: a first tray having a first wall defining a first cavity and a second cavity; a second tray having a second wall defining a third cavity and a fourth cavity, wherein the second tray is configured to move with respect to the first tray to a first position and a second position; and a communication passage recessed in a surface of the second wall at a position between the third and fourth cavities, wherein: when the second tray is moved to the first position, the first and second walls contact except at a position where the communication passage is formed, when the second tray is moved to the first position, the first and second walls are spaced from each other, and the communication passage is configured to such that a supercooling effect occurring in the first cell is transferred through the communication passage to the second cell. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The ice maker of claim 19, wherein: the first through fourth cavities have hemispherical shapes such that, at the first position, the first and second cells have a spherical shape; and the communication passage has a semicircular cross-sectional shape.