A refrigerator has an ice maker. The ice maker has: a longitudinal axis; and a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray with an upper face defining a plane offset from the longitudinal axis with openings for ice cubes, a fixed lateral end, and a rotatable lateral end, the upper face being parallel to the longitudinal axis, the offset being at least a depth of an ice cube. Ice cubes are released when a torsional force exerted on the rotatable lateral end twists the stretchable tray.

A refrigerator has an ice maker. The ice maker has: a longitudinal axis; and a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray with an upper face defining a plane offset from the longitudinal axis with openings for ice cubes, a fixed lateral end, and a rotatable lateral end, the upper face being parallel to the longitudinal axis, the offset being at least a depth of an ice cube. Ice cubes are released when a torsional force exerted on the rotatable lateral end twists the stretchable tray.

A refrigerator according to the present invention comprises: a storage compartment for storing food; a first temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the storage compartment; a door for opening and closing the storage compartment; a cold air supply means for supplying cold air into the storage compartment; trays forming ice-making cells which are spaces in which water changes phase into ice due to the cold air; a second temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the water or ice in the ice-making cells; a heater for supplying heat to the trays; and a control unit for controlling the heater, wherein, after opening or closing of the door is sensed during the ice-making process, the control unit increases the cooling power of the cold air supply means if an increase in cooling power therefrom is determined to be needed on the basis of the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor, and decreases the amount of heat applied by the heater if a reduction in heat applied by the heater is determined to be needed on the basis of the change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor.

A refrigerator according to the present invention comprises: a storage compartment for storing food; a first temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the storage compartment; a door for opening and closing the storage compartment; a cold air supply means for supplying cold air into the storage compartment; trays forming ice-making cells which are spaces in which water changes phase into ice due to the cold air; a second temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the water or ice in the ice-making cells; a heater for supplying heat to the trays; and a control unit for controlling the heater, wherein, after opening or closing of the door is sensed during the ice-making process, the control unit increases the cooling power of the cold air supply means if an increase in cooling power therefrom is determined to be needed on the basis of the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor, and decreases the amount of heat applied by the heater if a reduction in heat applied by the heater is determined to be needed on the basis of the change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor.

An ice maker and a refrigerator are provided. The ice maker comprises an ice making tray having a plurality of ice making spaces, a motor assembly for driving the ice making tray, and a bracket, the motor assembly is connected to the bracket, and the ice making tray has one end rotationally supported at the bracket; the ice maker further comprises a fan mounted at the bracket, the bracket comprises a top plate located at an upper portion of an opening of the ice making space and a side plate located at one side of the top plate, one end of the ice making tray is supported at the side plate, a supporting plate extends from a side edge of the side plate relative to the ice making tray, and the fan is connected to the supporting plate and has an air guide direction towards the ice making tray.

An ice maker and a refrigerator are provided. The ice maker comprises an ice making tray having a plurality of ice making spaces, a motor assembly for driving the ice making tray, and a bracket, the motor assembly is connected to the bracket, and the ice making tray has one end rotationally supported at the bracket; the ice maker further comprises a fan mounted at the bracket, the bracket comprises a top plate located at an upper portion of an opening of the ice making space and a side plate located at one side of the top plate, one end of the ice making tray is supported at the side plate, a supporting plate extends from a side edge of the side plate relative to the ice making tray, and the fan is connected to the supporting plate and has an air guide direction towards the ice making tray.

An ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes a resilient silicone mold defining a mold cavity 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 fill cup is positioned above the resilient mold for selectively filling the mold cavity with water and a heating element in thermal communication with the fill cup for selectively heating the fill cup to prevent ice jams or clogging.

An ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes a resilient silicone mold defining a mold cavity 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 fill cup is positioned above the resilient mold for selectively filling the mold cavity with water and a heating element in thermal communication with the fill cup for selectively heating the fill cup to prevent ice jams or clogging.

An ice cube producing unit comprising a tray formed as an ice cube tray having at least one ice cube compartment, a lid which is suitable for being mounted on the tray to seal contents of the at least one ice cube compartment inside said at least one ice cube compartment, a displacing mechanism connecting the tray and the lid and having two positions: a closed position where the lid is held in a position where it abuts the tray and an open position where the lid is held in a position where it is separated from the tray so that an ice cube formed in the tray can leave the tray. The displacing mechanism comprises a bi-stable element arranged between the lid and the tray, said bi-stable element having a first stable state when the tray and the lid are in the closed position and a second stable state when the tray and lid are in the open position. In this way, a simple construction is provided which is easy to use and has a simple displacing mechanism.

An ice cube producing unit comprising a tray formed as an ice cube tray having at least one ice cube compartment, a lid which is suitable for being mounted on the tray to seal contents of the at least one ice cube compartment inside said at least one ice cube compartment, a displacing mechanism connecting the tray and the lid and having two positions: a closed position where the lid is held in a position where it abuts the tray and an open position where the lid is held in a position where it is separated from the tray so that an ice cube formed in the tray can leave the tray. The displacing mechanism comprises a bi-stable element arranged between the lid and the tray, said bi-stable element having a first stable state when the tray and the lid are in the closed position and a second stable state when the tray and lid are in the open position. In this way, a simple construction is provided which is easy to use and has a simple displacing mechanism.