In a method for controlling an ice maker, a motor rotates an ejector finger relative to an ice tray in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction to discharge ice from the ice tray. When an error condition occurs, the ice maker enters a first error mode, during which an ice maker heater is turned on until the temperature of the ice tray reaches a predetermined temperature or until an ice maker heater error correction time elapses. When the ejector finger is at a home position, the motor rotates in the second direction until the ejector finger is not at the home position or for a first predetermined number of steps, whichever occurs first, and then rotates in the first direction until the ejector finger is at the home position.

An ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes a resilient silicone mold and a lifter mechanism positioned below the resilient mold for selectively deforming the mold and raising the ice cubes formed therein. A sweep assembly is positioned over the resilient mold and moves to an extended position after the cubes are raised to discharge the ice cubes at a top of the ice making assembly. A drive mechanism such as a motor drives the lifter mechanism using a cam-follower arrangement and the sweep assembly using a slotted yoke mechanism.

A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0 C., a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0 C., a system evaporator for providing a cooling effect to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and an ice tray assembly disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice tray assembly includes an ice mold with an upper surface comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein for the ice pieces, a heater disposed on the ice mold and an ice maker refrigerant tube abutting at least one lateral side surface of the ice mold and cooling the ice mold to a temperature below 0 C. via thermal conduction and a cover having a water fill cup integrated into the cover and an outlet aligned with an inlet of the ice mold.

An ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes a resilient silicone mold and a lifter mechanism positioned below the resilient mold for selectively deforming the mold and raising the ice cubes formed therein. A sweep assembly is positioned over the resilient mold and moves to an extended position after the cubes are raised to discharge the ice cubes at a top of the ice making assembly. A drive mechanism such as a motor drives the lifter mechanism using a cam-follower arrangement and the sweep assembly using a slotted yoke mechanism.

A refrigerator includes a storage chamber, a cold air supply which supplies cold air to the storage chamber, a first tray which forms a part of an ice making cell that is a space where water is phase-changed into ice by the cold air, a second tray which forms another part of the ice making cell and which may come into contact with the first tray during an ice making process and may be separated from the first tray during an ice transfer process, a heater adjacent to at least one of the first tray or the second tray, a sensor which determines the position of the second tray in a movement process of the second tray, and a control unit which controls the heater.

Proposed are an ice maker and a refrigerator including the ice maker. The ice maker includes a drive motor arranged inside a casing and configured to rotate an ice-making tray or an ejector pin, a gear set operating in unison with the drive motor, an in-unison operating lever provided to operate in unison with the gear set, a magnet being provided on one side of the in-unison operating lever, and a printed circuit board arranged to one side of the in-unison operating lever, a position detection sensor being provided on the printed circuit board in such a manner that an electric contact point is established according to trajectory followed by the moving magnet.

A refrigerator and a control method of the same are disclosed, wherein the refrigerator comprises an ice tray for receiving water to generate ices; a motor capable of being rotated in a forward or reverse direction; an ejector including a rotary shaft rotating the ices made in the ice tray to discharge the ices from the ice tray, rotated by being axially connected to the motor, and a protrusion pin protruded in a radius direction of the rotary shaft to adjoin the ices; a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray; a door switching sensor for sensing a storage compartment door's opening or closing, the storage compartment door being provided with the ejector; and a controller for turning the heater on or off in accordance with a rotation position of the ejector.

A refrigerator includes an ice tray, a motor, an ejector including a rotary shaft and a protrusion pin, and a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray. A control method of the refrigerator includes a first step of sensing whether the ejector is rotated to reach a first setup position; a second step of driving the heater and stopping driving of an ice making compartment fan if the first step is satisfied; a third step of determining whether the ejector is rotated to reach a second setup position; and a fourth step of stopping driving of the heater if the third step is satisfied, and wherein the ejector continues to be rotated while the second to fourth steps are implemented.

A control method of a refrigerator includes: determining whether a first temperature of a refrigerating compartment satisfies a first temperature condition; based the first temperature satisfying the first temperature condition, determining whether a second temperature of a freezing compartment satisfies a second temperature condition; based on the second temperature satisfying the second temperature condition, determining (i) whether a third temperature of an ice making compartment satisfies a third temperature condition and (ii) whether a driving time for ice making has passed; maintaining operation of a compressor while determining (i) whether the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition, (ii) whether the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition, and (iii) whether the driving time has passed; and stopping operation of the compressor based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time has passed.

An ice maker includes an ice tray with partitioned spaces for receiving ice-making water, an ejector for ice-separating an ice in the ice tray, a detector unit for detecting at least one of a position of the ejector and a temperature of the ice tray, a control box provided to be opposite to the ice tray and including a printed circuit board and a motor for driving the ejector therein, and a planar heater provided in the ice tray and including a heating element of a metal thin film and an insulating member to wrap the heating element such that the planar heater is pressured by virtue of an instrument provided in the ice tray to be bonded to or in closely contacted with the ice tray.