Provided is a refrigerator including a cabinet having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment defined therein, and an ice maker disposed in the freezing compartment, wherein the ice maker includes an upper tray made of an elastic material, and having a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers defined therein, a lower tray made of an elastic material, wherein the lower tray comes into contact with the upper tray by pivoting to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers therebetween, a driver for pivoting the lower tray to open and close the upper tray and the lower tray, and each rib formed along a circumference of each upper chamber or each lower chamber in contact with each other.

The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling an ice-detaching temperature of an icemaker, including a first step of performing an ice-making operation in an ice-making unit, and counting a required ice-making time period from a starting point in time of the ice-making operation to an end point in time of the ice-making operation; a second step of acquiring the counted required ice-making time period, and acquiring an ambient temperature from an external temperature sensor; a third step of determining a variable ice-detaching time period, depending on the acquired ambient temperature and the acquired required ice-making time period; and a fourth step of using the determined ice-detaching time period to perform an ice-detaching operation. Ice of a cold plate is completely separated from the cold plate during an ice-detaching operation under conventional temperature conditions and even under harsh environments, preventing icemaker failure and increasing ice-making capacity.

A refrigerator is provided that includes an ice making system, that generally includes an ice maker for making ice, and an ice container for holding the formed ice. The ice making system may be positioned anywhere within the refrigerator, and it may be a modular ice system. The shape of the ice container limits the amount of useable space taken up by the system. The ice container includes a stir stick positioned within the ice container. The stir stick is configured to rotate and oscillate in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stir stick to provide movement of the stir stick into the full area of the ice container. The rotation and oscillation of the stir stick prevents ice from melting and clumping in the corners of the ice container, while also aiding in directing the ice towards a dispensing aperture of the ice container.

A refrigerator is provided that includes an ice making system, that generally includes an ice maker for making ice, and an ice container for holding the formed ice. The ice making system may be positioned anywhere within the refrigerator, and it may be a modular ice system. The shape of the ice container limits the amount of useable space taken up by the system. The ice container includes a stir stick positioned within the ice container. The stir stick is configured to rotate and oscillate in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stir stick to provide movement of the stir stick into the full area of the ice container. The rotation and oscillation of the stir stick prevents ice from melting and clumping in the corners of the ice container, while also aiding in directing the ice towards a dispensing aperture of the ice container.

In an ice maker according to the present disclosure, transporter configured to supply ice to a dispenser, at least a part of which is located above an ice bucket located in the middle of the main body, may transport the ice upward to help the user take the ice conveniently even with the ice bucket located in the middle of the main body. So a refrigerator including the ice maker, according to the present disclosure, includes a storeroom to store groceries with increased utilization of the storeroom.

A refrigerator has an ice bin that can break ice piece agglomerates therein. The ice bin includes a breaking unit rotatably installed in a discharge port of the ice bin, the breaking unit including a stationary blade and rotatable blade. The ice bin also includes a separation blade rotatably installed parallel the breaking unit and configured to strike and separate ice pieces agglomerates into smaller pieces for discharging.

A refrigerator including an ice maker and cutters for crushing ice produced from the ice maker. The cutters include fixed cutters and rotational cutters. Through holes are formed on the cutters to facilitate cold air flow to pass through the cutters and into the ice crushing space. The rotational cutters can rotate in one direction to crush the ice, and can rotate in another direction to leave the ice uncrushed.

A refrigerator has an ice bin that can break ice piece agglomerates therein. The ice bin includes a breaking unit rotatably installed in a discharge port of the ice bin, the breaking unit including a stationary blade and rotatable blade. The ice bin further includes a separation bar unit rotatably installed parallel to the breaking unit to strike and separate the ice piece agglomerates during rotation.

An ergonomic cooler providing quick and easy access to ice through a side ice access. The exposure of the ice to debris is reduced. The interior compartments have modular configurations. Ice is accessed with a scoop or utensil with minimal wrist movement.

An inline vending machine for ice and water vending installed within a store wall allowing a user to purchase ice and water without entering the store. A shipping frame for shipping and installation of the insulated wall into the store wall is also disclosed.