Provided are an ice making device and a method of inspecting the same. In the ice making device, signal lines extending from a temperature sensor are connected to a drive unit. The drive unit performs an ice removal process of removing ice from an ice making tray when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a set temperature. The drive unit performs a sensor inspection process of automatically inspecting whether the temperature sensor is abnormal based on an inspection execution command issued by an operation of a test switch during general processes including supplying water to the ice making tray and an ice making process. Thus, inspection of a drive mechanism of the drive unit and inspection of the temperature sensor can be performed in a series of operations.

An ice making system includes: a tank that stores a medium to be cooled; an ice making machine that cools the medium and makes ice; a pump that circulates the medium between the tank and the ice making machine; a de-icing mechanism that performs a de-icing operation of heating and melting the medium in the ice making machine; and a control device that controls operations of the ice making machine, the pump, and the de-icing mechanism. The ice making machine includes: a cooling chamber in which the medium is cooled; a blade mechanism that rotates in the cooling chamber and disperses the ice; a detector that detects a locked state of the blade mechanism; and a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a discharge port of the cooling chamber and detects a temperature of the medium discharged from the cooling chamber.

An ice making system includes: a tank that stores a medium to be cooled; an ice making machine that cools the medium and makes ice; a pump that circulates the medium between the tank and the ice making machine; a de-icing mechanism that performs a de-icing operation of heating and melting the medium in the ice making machine; and a control device that controls operations of the ice making machine, the pump, and the de-icing mechanism. The ice making machine includes: a cooling chamber in which the medium is cooled; a blade mechanism that rotates in the cooling chamber and disperses the ice; a detector that detects a locked state of the blade mechanism; and a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a discharge port of the cooling chamber and detects a temperature of the medium discharged from the cooling chamber.

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.

A refrigerator appliance and ice bin assembly therefor are provided herein. The ice bin assembly or ice bin may be removably received within the chilled chamber. The ice bin may include a bin body, an ice sweep, and a gear assembly. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein. The ice sweep may be positioned within the ice bin. The gear assembly may be positioned within the ice bin below the ice sweep in mechanical communication with the ice sweep to motivate rotation of the ice sweep.

An ice maker includes a mold body. A plurality of mold cavities are defined in the mold body. Each mold cavity extends between a floor and an opening along a longitudinal axis. Each mold cavity is enclosed by at least one sidewall between the floor and the opening. The longitudinal axis of each mold cavity is oriented generally along the vertical direction. The ice maker also includes a heater in thermal communication with the floor of each mold cavity of the plurality of mold cavities. The heater is configured to maintain water within a lower portion of each mold cavity in a liquid state. The ice maker further includes a drain conduit in fluid communication with the mold body and configured to receive a flow of liquid water from the mold cavities. A related refrigerator appliance and related methods are also provided.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heating control method, a heating control device, and an ice maker. The heating control method comprises: determining that the ice maker is in an ice-making operation state; acquiring a first heating strategy of a target part of the ice maker according to a preset first heating strategy acquisition rule, based on ambient parameter information of an ambient in which the target part of the ice maker is located; and heating the target part based on the first heating strategy. Through the embodiments of the present disclosure, the problem that the deicing heating control technology of the ice maker in the prior art has high energy consumption is solved, and the beneficial effect of precise and low-energy deicing heating control on the ice-prone parts of the ice maker is achieved.

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 heating control method, a heating control device, and an ice maker are provided. The heating control method is: determining that an ice maker is in the ice-making operation state, and the current water feeding is the first water feeding after a target ice maker is turned on; continuously heating a water inlet pipe for a first preset duration; controlling the water inlet valve to remain closed until the heating for the water inlet pipe ends, ensuring that no ice is present in the water inlet pipe or even if the ice is present, water can be smoothly fed into a water storage tank of the ice maker after the water inlet pipe is heated continuously for the first preset duration.

An ice making device is provided. In an ice making device, a convex part reflecting the shape of a recessed part for water storage is formed on a bottom surface of the ice making tray. A temperature sensor is in contact with a side wall of the convex part. The temperature sensor is covered with a flexible member. In addition, a cover member pressing the temperature sensor against the ice making tray is fixed to the bottom surface of the ice making tray through the flexible member. In the temperature sensor, a sealing coating layer is provided to cover a temperature detection chip, but an exterior case is not used.