U.S. patent application number 12/989328 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-17 for ice maker and water purifier having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hee-Do Jung, Hyun-Woo Lee, Jong-Han Lee, Jung-Chul Park.
Application Number | 20110036115 12/989328 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41217227 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110036115 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Jong-Han ; et
al. |
February 17, 2011 |
ICE MAKER AND WATER PURIFIER HAVING THE SAME
Abstract
There is provided an ice maker and a water purifier having the
same capable of effectively making ice using two water trays. The
water purifier having an ice maker includes a water tray member
comprising an ice-making water tray holding ice-making raw water to
make ice using an ice-making unit, and an auxiliary water tray
holding ice-making raw water remaining in the ice-making water tray
in the course of cooling the ice-making raw water by means of the
ice-making unit and removing the ice-making raw water from the
ice-making water tray; an ice reservoir storing ice made in the
ice-making unit; a cold water storage tank cooling water held
therein using the ice made in the ice-making unit; and a guide
member guiding the ice made in the ice-making unit so that the ice
is selectively fed to either the ice reservoir or the cold water
storage tank. The ice maker and the water purifier having the came
may be useful to improve the ice-making efficiency since residual
cooling water cooled in the ice-making water tray is collected in
the auxiliary water tray, and re-used to make ice.
Inventors: |
Lee; Jong-Han; ( Seoul,
KR) ; Park; Jung-Chul; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee;
Hyun-Woo; (Seoul, KR) ; Jung; Hee-Do; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORITY & MANNING, P.A.
POST OFFICE BOX 1449
GREENVILLE
SC
29602-1449
US
|
Assignee: |
Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd.
Choongcheongnam-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
41217227 |
Appl. No.: |
12/989328 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
March 31, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2009/001649 |
371 Date: |
October 22, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/344 ;
62/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 2400/14 20130101;
F25C 1/08 20130101; F25C 2700/14 20130101; F25C 2400/04 20130101;
F25C 1/04 20130101; F25C 2305/022 20130101; F25C 1/25 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/344 ;
62/347 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/18 20060101
F25C005/18; F25C 1/00 20060101 F25C001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 22, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0037450 |
Claims
1. An ice maker comprising: an ice-making water tray holding
ice-making raw water to make ice using an ice making unit; and an
auxiliary water tray holding ice-making raw water remaining in the
ice-making water tray in the course of cooling the ice-making raw
water by means of the ice-making unit and removing the ice-making
raw water from the ice-making water tray.
2. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary water tray is
coupled to one side of the ice-making water tray.
3. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary water tray is
installed in one side of the ice-making water tray so that the
auxiliary water tray is fixed and maintained in the ice-making
water tray.
4. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the ice-making raw water
remaining in the ice-making water tray is transferred to the
auxiliary water tray as the ice-making water tray rotates toward an
ice separation position by means of a water tray rotating means,
and the residual raw water transferred to the auxiliary water tray
is fed back to the ice-making water tray as the ice-making water
tray returns to an ice-making position by means of the water tray
rotating means.
5. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein a rotation angle of the
ice-making water tray rotated by the water tray rotating means is
in a range of 80 to 120 degrees when the ice-making water tray
moves from the ice-making position to the ice separation
position.
6. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising a guide grill
provided with a water inlet having a smaller diameter than that of
the ice so that the ice-making raw water remaining in the
ice-making water tray flows in the auxiliary water tray, the guide
grill being mounted on the auxiliary water tray.
7. The ice maker of claim 6, wherein the ice-making water tray and
the auxiliary water tray rotate toward an ice separation position
by means of the water tray rotating means, and the guide grill is
inclined downwards along a direction where the ice falls down at
the ice separation position.
8. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the ice-making unit comprises
an evaporator installed to be immersed in ice-making raw water held
in the ice-making water tray.
9. A water purifier having an ice maker comprising: a water tray
member comprising an ice-making water tray holding ice-making raw
water to make ice using an ice-making unit, and an auxiliary water
tray holding ice-making raw water remaining in the ice-making water
tray in the course of cooling the ice-making raw water by means of
the ice-making unit and removing the ice-making raw water from the
ice-making water tray; an ice reservoir storing ice made in the
ice-making unit; a cold water storage tank cooling water held
therein using the ice made in the ice-making unit; and a guide
member guiding the ice made in the ice-making unit so that the ice
is selectively fed to either the ice reservoir or the cold water
storage tank.
10. The water purifier of claim 9, wherein the ice-making raw water
remaining in the ice-making water tray is transferred to the
auxiliary water tray as the ice-making water tray rotates toward an
ice separation position by means of a water tray rotating means,
and the residual raw water transferred to the auxiliary water tray
is fed back to the ice-making water tray as the ice making water
tray returns to an ice making position by means of the water tray
rotating means.
11. The water purifier of claim 9, wherein the water tray member
further comprises a guide grill provided with a water inlet having
a smaller diameter than that of the ice so that the ice-making raw
water remaining in the ice-making water tray flows the auxiliary
water tray, the guide grill being mounted on the auxiliary water
tray.
12. The water purifier of claim 11, wherein the guide grill is
inclined downward to the ice reservoir or the cold water storage
tank at the ice separation position.
13. The water purifier of claim 9, wherein the guide member rotates
between a first position to which the ice is guided so that the ice
is fed to the ice reservoir and a second position to which the cold
water is guided so that the ice is fed to the cold water storage
tank.
14. The water purifier of claim 9, further comprising a controller
controlling an amount of ice being fed to the cold water storage
tank according to the temperature of water in the cold water
storage tank.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an ice maker comprising an
ice-making unit and a water purifier having the ice maker, and more
particularly, to an ice maker capable of effectively making ice
using two water trays and a water purifier having the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, an ice maker is an apparatus that make ice using
an ice-making unit and a water purifier may include this ice
maker.
[0003] This water purifier having an ice maker is an apparatus that
purifies raw water such as tap water and dispenses the purified
water, cold water and/or hot water, and ice to users. In general,
the water purifier having an ice maker includes a filter unit for
purifying raw water, a purified water storage tank for storing
purified water, a cold water storage tank for cooling and storing
purified water, and an ice-making unit for making ice. Also, the
water purifier may further include a hot water storage tank for
heating and storing purified water.
[0004] These ice maker and water purifier having the same are
usually provided with an ice-making water tray holding ice-making
raw water from the purified water storage tank, etc. and functions
to cool the ice-making raw water held in the water tray in order to
make ice.
[0005] However, since a temperature of the ice-making raw water
held in the ice-making water tray is close to a room temperature,
the ice-making raw water should be cooled to make ice. However,
this cooling process has problems in that a lot of power and time
are required to cool the ice-making raw water.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0006] The present invention is designed to solve the problems of
the prior art, and therefore it is an object of the present
invention to provide an ice maker and a water purifier having the
same capable of effectively making ice using low-temperature
ice-making raw water.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
water purifier having an ice maker capable of effectively
maintaining a temperature of a cold water storage tank using only
one cooling unit.
Technical Solution
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an ice maker comprising an ice-making water tray holding
ice-making raw water to make ice using an ice-making unit; and an
auxiliary water tray holding ice-making raw water remaining in the
ice-making water tray in the course of cooling the ice-making raw
water by means of the ice-making unit and removing the ice-making
raw water from the ice-making water tray.
[0009] In this case, the auxiliary water tray may be coupled to one
side of the ice-making water tray.
[0010] Also, the auxiliary water tray may be installed in one side
of the ice-making water tray so that the auxiliary water tray can
be fixed and maintained in the ice-making water tray.
[0011] In addition, the ice-making raw water remaining in the
ice-making water tray may be transferred to the auxiliary water
tray as the ice-making water tray rotates toward an ice separation
position by means of a water tray rotating means, and the residual
raw water transferred to the auxiliary water tray may be fed back
to the ice-making water tray as the ice-making water tray returns
to an ice-making position by means of the water tray rotating
means.
[0012] Additionally, a rotation angle of the ice-making water tray
rotated by the water tray rotating means may be in a range of 80 to
120 degrees when the ice-making water tray moves from the
ice-making position to the ice separation position.
[0013] Also, the ice maker may further comprise a guide grill
provided with a water inlet having a smaller diameter than that of
the ice so that the ice-making raw water remaining in the
ice-making water tray flows in the auxiliary water tray, the guide
grill being mounted on the auxiliary water tray.
[0014] Additionally, the ice-making water tray and the auxiliary
water tray may rotate toward an ice separation position by means of
the water tray rotating means, and the guide grill may be inclined
downwards along a direction where the ice falls down at the ice
separation position.
[0015] Furthermore, the ice-making unit may include an evaporator
installed to be immersed in ice-making raw water held in the
ice-making water tray.
[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a water purifier having an ice maker including a water
tray member including an ice-making water tray holding ice-making
raw water to make ice using an ice-making unit, and an auxiliary
water tray holding ice-making raw water remaining in the ice-making
water tray in the course of cooling the ice-making raw water by
means of the ice-making unit and removing the ice-making raw water
from the ice-making water tray; an ice reservoir storing ice made
in the ice-making unit; a cold water storage tank cooling water
held therein using the ice made in the ice-making unit; and a guide
member guiding the ice made in the ice-making unit so that the ice
is selectively fed to either the ice reservoir or the cold water
storage tank.
[0017] In this case, the water tray member may further include a
guide grill provided with a water inlet having a smaller diameter
than that of the ice so that the ice-making raw water remaining in
the ice-making water tray flows in the auxiliary water tray, the
guide grill being mounted on the auxiliary water tray.
[0018] Also, the guide member may rotate between a first position
to which the ice is guided so that the ice is fed to the ice
reservoir, and a second position to which the cold water is guided
so that the ice is fed to the cold water storage tank.
[0019] Furthermore, the water purifier having an ice maker may
further include a controller controlling an amount of ice being fed
to the cold water storage tank according to the temperature of
water in the cold water storage tank.
Advantageous Effects
[0020] As described above, the ice maker and the water purifier
having the same according to one exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may be useful to improve the ice-making
efficiency since residual cooling water cooled in the ice-making
water tray is collected in the auxiliary water tray, and re-used to
make ice.
[0021] Also, the ice maker and the water purifier having the same
according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may
be useful to effectively make ice since cooling water remaining in
the ice-making water tray is used to make ice, although a
temperature of the cold water storage tank is increased due to the
dispensing of excessive cold water.
[0022] In addition, the water purifier having an ice maker
according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may
have simple configuration of a cooling cycle since the ice made in
the ice-making unit is used to cool water held in the cold water
storage tank and therefore a separate evaporator is not required to
cool the cold water storage tank.
[0023] Additionally, the water purifier having an ice maker
according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may
be useful to provide a simple ice-feeding operation since the ice
is selectively fed to the ice reservoir and the cold water storage
tank by rotation of a guide member.
[0024] Furthermore, the water purifier having an ice maker
according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may
be useful to maintain a temperature of water in the cold water
storage tank to a suitable temperature level since the water
purifier includes a controller controlling an amount of ice being
fed to the cold water storage tank according to the temperature of
water in the cold water storage tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating
a water purifier having an ice maker according to one exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an inner
configuration of the water purifier having an ice maker as shown in
FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a water tray
member provided in the water purifier having an ice maker according
to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a water tray
member as shown in FIG. 3.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view sequentially illustrating
an operating procedure of the water tray member according to one
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating that ice is fed to
an ice reservoir at an ice separation position of a water tray
member.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating that a water tray
member returns to an ice-making position.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating that ice is fed to a
cold water storage tank according to one exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0033] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating
a water purifier having an ice maker according to one exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view
illustrating an inner configuration of the water purifier having an
ice maker as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view
illustrating a water tray member provided in the water purifier
having an ice maker according to one exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
water tray member as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional
view sequentially illustrating an operating procedure of the water
tray member according to one exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating that ice is fed
to an ice reservoir from an ice separation position of a water tray
member, FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating that a water tray
member returns to an ice-making position, and FIG. 8 is a schematic
view illustrating that ice is fed to a cold water storage tank
according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] Hereinafter, the ice maker and the water purifier having the
same according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention
is described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ice maker according to one
exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a water tray
member 200 holding ice-making raw water; ice-making unit comprising
evaporator 120 and compressor(not shown); and ice reservoir 140
storing ice made by means of the ice-making unit. Further, the
water purifier 100 having an ice maker according to one exemplary
embodiment of the present invention includes a water tray member
200 holding ice-making raw water; an ice reservoir 140 storing ice
made in an ice-making unit; a cold water storage tank 130 cooling
water held therein using the ice made in the ice-making unit; and a
guide member 150 guiding the ice made in the ice-making unit so
that the ice can be selectively fed to either the ice reservoir 140
or the cold water storage tank 130.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, the water tray member 200
includes an ice-making water tray 210 holding ice-making raw water
to make ice using an ice-making unit; and an auxiliary water tray
220 holding ice-making raw water remaining in the ice-making water
tray 210 in the course of cooling the ice-making raw water by means
of the ice-making unit and removing the ice-making raw water from
the ice-making water tray 210.
[0038] The ice-making water tray 210 has a space for holding
ice-making raw water in an ice-making position as shown in FIG. 5
(a), the space having a predetermined volume to hold ice-making raw
water. In this case, the ice-making raw water fed to the ice-making
water tray 210 may be fed to a purified water storage tank 110.
However, when low-temperature raw water is fed to the purified
water storage tank 110, the ice-making efficiency is improved.
Therefore, water is more preferably fed from the cold water storage
tank 130.
[0039] Also, the auxiliary water tray 220 is coupled to one side of
the ice-making water tray 210 to receive and hold ice-making raw
water remaining in the ice-making water tray 210 in the ice
separation course of removing the ice-making raw water from the
ice-making water tray 210
[0040] In this case, the rotation of the ice-making water tray 210
is performed by a water tray rotating means 180.
[0041] More particularly, the ice-making raw water remaining in the
ice-making water tray 210 is transferred and held in the auxiliary
water tray 220 as the water tray member 200 rotates about the pivot
of the water tray rotating shaft 211 by means of the water tray
rotating means 180, from an ice-making position as shown in FIG. 5
(a) to an ice separation position as shown in FIG. 5 (d) and FIG. 5
(e). When the ice separation is completed, the water tray member
200 returns to the ice-making position as shown in FIG. 5 (a) from
the ice separation position as shown in FIG. 5 (e) by means of the
water tray rotating means 180. In this case, the residual raw water
transferred to the auxiliary water tray 220 is fed back to the
ice-making water tray 210.
[0042] Therefore, when ice is re-made by the ice-making unit, water
whose temperature is close to 0.degree. C. (degree Celsius), which
remains in the ice-making water tray 210 after the ice-making
operation, may be re-used as the ice-making raw water, which leads
to improved ice-making efficiency. Meanwhile, ice-making raw water,
which runs short due to the ice-making operation, is provided from
the cold water storage tank 130 or the purified water storage tank
110, as described above.
[0043] In this case, in order to allow the ice-making water tray
210 and the auxiliary water tray 220 to rotate together, the
auxiliary water tray 220 is preferably installed in one side of the
ice-making water tray 210 so that the auxiliary water tray 220 is
fixed and maintained in the ice-making water tray 210.
[0044] Also, the ice-making water tray 210 and the auxiliary water
tray 220 may be integrally formed as shown in FIG. 3, but also be
manufactured and assembled as separate members for convenience's
sake.
[0045] Although the ice-making unit is not shown in the drawings, a
cooling cycle is achieved in the same manner as in the conventional
cooling systems. In this case, the ice-making unit used in the
present invention may take an immersion-type ice making technique
of immersing an immersion pipe 121 provided in a cooling cycle
evaporator 120 in ice-making raw water held in the ice-making water
tray 210 and cooling the ice-making raw water to make ice around an
immersion pipe 121 when the ice-making unit is put into action, but
the present invention is not particularly limited thereto.
Therefore, a variety of known ice-making/ice separation techniques
are applicable to the ice-making unit.
[0046] Meanwhile, when the water tray member 200 including the
ice-making water tray 210 and the auxiliary water tray 220 moves
from an ice-making position to an ice separation position, a
rotation angle of the water tray member 200 rotated by the water
tray rotating means 180 is preferably in a range of 80 to 120
degrees. In case the rotation angle of the water tray member 200 is
less than 80 degrees, the ice, which is separated from the
immersion pipe 121 during the ice separation, interferes with the
water tray member 200 not to move to a desired position. On the
contrary, when the rotation angle of the water tray member 200
exceeds 120 degrees, the transfer of the ice-making raw water
between the ice-making water tray 210 and the auxiliary water tray
220 does not go on easily during the rotation of the water tray
member 200, or water may flow over the outside of the auxiliary
water tray 220. Preferably, the ice-making water tray 210 is at
right angle to the auxiliary water tray 220, and a rotation angle
of the water tray member 200 may be 90 degrees, as shown in FIGS. 1
to 8.
[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ice reservoir 140 is
installed in a lower position than the water tray member 200 so
that the ice reservoir 140 can hold ice separated from the
ice-making unit.
[0048] In this case, an ice discharge unit 141 such as a screw may
be installed in the ice reservoir 140 so as to discharge ice. When
the ice discharge unit 141 rotates about the pivot of the rotation
axis 141a, the ice is discharged from the ice reservoir 140. This
internal configuration of the ice reservoir 140 has been widely
used in the conventional ice makers and water purifiers having an
ice maker. Therefore, detailed descriptions of the internal
configuration of the ice reservoir 140 are omitted for clarity.
[0049] Also, the cold water storage tank 130 is configured so that
water held in the cold water storage tank 130 can be cooled with
the ice made at the ice-making unit. Here, a plurality of water
level sensors (i.e. a full water level sensor 131) and a
temperature sensor 132 are installed in the cold water storage tank
130 to adjust a water level and temperature of water in the cold
water storage tank 130.
[0050] Meanwhile, the water tray member 200 may further include a
guide grill 230 mounted on the auxiliary water tray 220. In this
case, the guide grill 230 is provided with a water inlet 231 having
a smaller diameter than that of the ice so that the ice-making raw
water remaining in the ice-making water tray 210 can flow in the
auxiliary water tray 220 and the ice can fall down into the ice
reservoir 140 or the cold water storage tank 130 in the ice
separation course of removing ice-making raw water from the
ice-making water tray 210.
[0051] Also, when the water tray member 200 rotates towards an ice
separation position by means of the water tray rotating means 180,
the guide grill 230 is preferably inclined downwards along a
direction where the ice falls down at the ice separation position
so that the guide grill 230 can guide ice to the ice reservoir 140
or the cold water storage tank 130.
[0052] In addition, the guide member 150 guides separated ice so
that the separated ice can be selectively transferred to the ice
reservoir 140 and the cold water storage tank 130.
[0053] Such a guide member 150 may rotate between a first position
to which the ice made by the ice-making unit is guided so that the
ice is fed to the ice reservoir 140 (see FIG. 6), and a second
position to which the cold water is guided so that the ice is fed
to the cold water storage tank 130 (see FIG. 8). Here, the guide
member 150 rotates about the pivot of the rotation axis 152 by
means of rotary drive means (not shown).
[0054] Since the ice is selectively fed to either the ice reservoir
140 or the cold water storage tank 130 by the rotation of the guide
member 150, the water purifier has an advantage in that the feeding
of the ice is simply carried out.
[0055] Meanwhile, the water purifier 100 having an ice maker
according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may
further include a controller (not shown) controlling the ice-making
unit, the water tray member 200, the guide member 150 and the like,
depending on the temperature of water in the cold water storage
tank 130 that is sensed by a temperature sensor 132.
[0056] Such a controller may be configured so that the controller
can control an amount of ice fed to the cold water storage tank 130
according to the temperature of water in the cold water storage
tank 130.
[0057] For example, when a temperature of water in the cold water
storage tank 130 is higher than a set temperature, a large amount
of ice may flow in the water storage tank 130 under the control of
the controller. In this case, the guide member 150 moves to a
position to which the ice is guided so that the ice can flow in the
cold water storage tank 130 (see FIG. 8).
[0058] In case the temperature of water in the cold water storage
tank 130 is slightly higher than the set temperature, it is
unnecessary to feed a large amount of the ice to the cold water
storage tank 130. Therefore, a small amount of ice preferably flows
in the cold water storage tank 130. For this purpose, the
controller may control the ice separation when small-sized ice is
being formed around the immersion pipe 121 of the ice-making
evaporator 120, that is, before ice is formed into a full size.
[0059] According to such a configuration of the controller, the
temperature of water in the cold water storage tank 130 may be
maintained to an adequate level using the ice transferred to the
cold water storage tank 130.
[0060] An operation of the water tray member 200 is described in
more detail with reference to FIG. 5.
[0061] FIG. 5 (a) shows an ice-making position of the water tray
member 200. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), ice-making raw water flows and
is held in the ice-making water tray 210 during the initial
ice-making process. Such ice-making raw water may be fed from the
cold water storage tank 130 or the purified water storage tank 110.
Then, the immersion pipe 121 of the evaporator 120 is immersed in
the ice-making raw water and cooled in this ice-making
position.
[0062] When the ice-making operation is completed, the water tray
member 200 rotate clockwise by means of the water tray rotating
means 180, as shown in FIG. 5 (b).
[0063] When the water tray member 200 rotates further as shown in
FIG. 5 (c), the ice-making raw water remaining in the ice-making
water tray 210 is passed through the water inlet 231 of the guide
grill 230, and completely transferred and held in the auxiliary
water tray 220.
[0064] FIG. 5 (d) shows the complete rotation of the water tray
member 200 toward the ice separation position.
[0065] When hot gas is supplied to the immersion pipe 121 of the
evaporator 120 in this ice separation position, as shown in FIG. 5
(e), the formed ice (I) is separated by the heat derived from the
hot gas. In this case, the separated ice falls along an inclined
surface of the guide grill 230, and is transferred to either the
cold water storage tank 130 or the ice reservoir 140, depending on
the position of the guide member 150.
[0066] Then, when the water tray member 200 returns to an
ice-making position as shown in FIG. 5 (a) in order to perform the
next ice-making operation, the cold ice-making raw water remaining
in the auxiliary water tray 220 is passed through the water inlet
231 of the guide grill 230, and fed back to the ice-making water
tray 210 during this operation. In this case, in order to fill up
the lacking ice-making raw water, additional water is fed from the
cold water storage tank 130 or the purified water storage tank
110.
[0067] As described above, the ice maker and the water purifier
having the same according to one exemplary embodiment of the
present invention has an advantage in that the ice-making
efficiency is improved since the cooling water whose temperature is
close to 0.degree. C. (degree Celsius), which is cooled and remains
in the ice-making water tray 210, may be re-used through the
auxiliary water tray 220 to make ice. Further, the ice maker and
the water purifier having the same according to one exemplary
embodiment of the present invention has a beneficial effect in
performing an effective ice-making operation although a temperature
of water in the cold water storage tank 130 is increased due to the
dispensing of excessive cold water since the cooling water which is
cooled and remains in the ice-making water tray 210 may be re-used
in the next cooling procedure.
[0068] Then, a procedure of feeding ice to the ice reservoir 140 or
the cold water storage tank 130 is described in more detail with
reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.
[0069] The procedures of making and separating ice using the
rotation of the water tray member 200 are described as shown in
FIG. 5. In order to feed ice to the ice reservoir 140, it is
necessary that the guide member 150 rotates toward a position where
it guides ice to the ice reservoir 140 as shown in FIG. 6 during
the ice separation.
[0070] In this case, the ice separated from the immersion pipe 121
falls along an inclined surface of the guide grill 230 which is
inclined downwards at the ice separation position, and is guided by
the guide member 150 to the ice reservoir 140 via the ice input
port 142.
[0071] Then, another ice-making operation is initiated by rotating
the auxiliary water tray 220 toward the ice-making position, as
shown in FIG. 7.
[0072] Meanwhile, when it is necessary to cool the cold water
storage tank 130 due to the increased temperature of water in the
cold water storage tank 130, ice is fed to the cold water storage
tank 130. That is, the guide member 150 rotates toward a position
where it guides ice to the cold water storage tank 130, as shown in
FIG. 8, and feeds the ice made and separated from the ice-making
unit to the cold water storage tank 130.
[0073] In this case, an amount of the ice fed to the cold water
storage tank 130 is controlled by a controller, depending on the
temperature of water in the cold water storage tank 130.
[0074] As described above, a separate evaporator is not required to
cool the cold water storage tank 130 since the ice made in the
ice-making unit is used to cool water held in the cold water
storage tank 130. Therefore, the water purifier 100 having an ice
according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may
have simple configuration of a cooling cycle.
[0075] Also, the water purifier 100 having an ice according to one
exemplary embodiment of the present invention may maintain the
temperature of water in the cold water storage tank 130 to an
adequate level since water purifier 100 is provided with a
controller controlling an amount of ice fed to the cold water
storage tank 130 according to the temperature of water in the cold
water storage tank 130.
[0076] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed
description.
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