A refrigerator according to the present disclosure includes a storage chamber configured to store food, a cooler configured to supply cold to the storage chamber, a first temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature in the storage chamber, a first tray configured to form a portion of an ice making cell that is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold, a second tray configured to form another portion of the ice making cell, a water supply part configured to supply water to the ice making cell, a second temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell, a heater configured to be positioned adjacent to at least one of the first tray and the second tray, and a controller configured to control the heater, in which the controller controls the degree of supercooling of water to be reduced in at least one or more of a first section from the completion of a preparation step for water supply until the start of the water supply, a second section from the start of the water supply until the completion of the water supply, and a third sections from the start of the ice making process before the ice making process is completed.

A countertop appliance, as provided herein, may include a dispenser casing, a water path, a water filter, a dispenser valve, an output storage tank, an internal storage valve, and an ice maker. The dispenser casing may define an interior cavity. The water path may be enclosed within the interior cavity. The water path may define a water inlet and an assembly water outlet. The output storage tank may be disposed along the water path to hold a preset volume of water upstream from the assembly water outlet. The internal storage valve may be disposed along the water path and configured to maintain the preset volume of water within the output storage tank. The ice maker may be downstream from the output storage tank to receive water therefrom.

A countertop appliance, as provided herein, may include a dispenser casing, a water path, a water filter, a dispenser valve, an output storage tank, an internal storage valve, and an ice maker. The dispenser casing may define an interior cavity. The water path may be enclosed within the interior cavity. The water path may define a water inlet and an assembly water outlet. The output storage tank may be disposed along the water path to hold a preset volume of water upstream from the assembly water outlet. The internal storage valve may be disposed along the water path and configured to maintain the preset volume of water within the output storage tank. The ice maker may be downstream from the output storage tank to receive water therefrom.

An ice maker, according to the present invention, comprises: a first tray forming part of an ice-making cell; a second tray forming another part of the ice-making cell; and a heater which is disposed so as to be adjacent to the first or the second tray, wherein the heater operates during a period when cold air is supplied to the first tray and the second tray and ice making takes place, and supplies heat to the first tray and/or the second tray.

An ice maker includes a plurality of thermal insulation covers that contain a top mold and a bottom mold in a stacked arrangement for making ice. A fluid path is formed from a top thermal insulation cover through the top mold and into the bottom mold. The top mold includes a water inlet that extends through a top thermal insulation cover. The top mold also includes openings formed at its top and bottom that allow remaining liquid to flow into the bottom mold. During use, the ice maker forms decorative ice shapes in the top mold, where the ice is substantially transparent. Ice cubes can be formed in the bottom mold.

An ice maker includes a plurality of thermal insulation covers that contain a top mold and a bottom mold in a stacked arrangement for making ice. A fluid path is formed from a top thermal insulation cover through the top mold and into the bottom mold. The top mold includes a water inlet that extends through a top thermal insulation cover. The top mold also includes openings formed at its top and bottom that allow remaining liquid to flow into the bottom mold. During use, the ice maker forms decorative ice shapes in the top mold, where the ice is substantially transparent. Ice cubes can be formed in the bottom mold.

A refrigerator of the present invention comprises: a storage chamber for storing food; a cool air supplying means for supplying cool air to the storage chamber; a first tray which forms a part of an ice-making cell in which water is phase-changed to ice by the cool air; a second tray which forms another part of the ice-making cell and can be in contact with the first tray during an ice-making process; a water supply valve for adjusting a flow of the water supplied to the ice-making cell; a water supply amount detector for detecting the amount of water supplied to the ice-making cell; and a controller for controlling the water supply valve. The controller controls the water supply valve to supply water to the ice-making cell as much as a first reference water supply amount, for supplying water to the ice-making cell at a water supply position of the second tray. After finishing the water supply as much as the first reference water supply amount, the controller moves the second tray to an ice-making position and determines whether the water supply amount of the ice-making cell has reached a target water supply amount by using the water supply amount detector. When the water supply amount of the ice making cell has reached the target water supply amount, the controller starts ice-making, and when the water supply amount of the ice making cell has not reached the target water supply amount, the controller moves the second tray back to the water supply position and controls the water supply valve to supply water as much as a second reference water supply amount which is less than the first reference water supply amount.

A refrigerator of the present invention comprises: a storage chamber for storing food; a cool air supplying means for supplying cool air to the storage chamber; a first tray which forms a part of an ice-making cell in which water is phase-changed to ice by the cool air; a second tray which forms another part of the ice-making cell and can be in contact with the first tray during an ice-making process; a water supply valve for adjusting a flow of the water supplied to the ice-making cell; a water supply amount detector for detecting the amount of water supplied to the ice-making cell; and a controller for controlling the water supply valve. The controller controls the water supply valve to supply water to the ice-making cell as much as a first reference water supply amount, for supplying water to the ice-making cell at a water supply position of the second tray. After finishing the water supply as much as the first reference water supply amount, the controller moves the second tray to an ice-making position and determines whether the water supply amount of the ice-making cell has reached a target water supply amount by using the water supply amount detector. When the water supply amount of the ice making cell has reached the target water supply amount, the controller starts ice-making, and when the water supply amount of the ice making cell has not reached the target water supply amount, the controller moves the second tray back to the water supply position and controls the water supply valve to supply water as much as a second reference water supply amount which is less than the first reference water supply amount.

In a refrigerator, a cam of a cam gear rotating by a driving motor is provided with a structure protruding from an edge portion of a cam gear to a center, thereby increasing the thickness of a cam surface. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the magnitude of force directly transferred from the cam gear to a magnet lever.

In a refrigerator, a cam of a cam gear rotating by a driving motor is provided with a structure protruding from an edge portion of a cam gear to a center, thereby increasing the thickness of a cam surface. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the magnitude of force directly transferred from the cam gear to a magnet lever.