ICE TRAY UNIT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract

An ice tray unit is configured to be used in a refrigerator. The ice tray unit includes a mounting section configured to be mounted to the refrigerator, and a tray coupled to the mounting section. The tray is made of metal. The tray includes a box section configured to pool water, and partition plates coupled with the box section. The tray is independent from the mounting section. The partition plates are independent from the box section. The ice tray unit provides a die for manufacturing it with a large durability.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an ice tray unit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator including the ice tray unit in accordance with the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice maker including the ice tray unit in accordance with the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tray of the ice tray unit in accordance with the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part of the tray of the ice tray unit in accordance with the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the tray of the ice tray unit at line 5-5 shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part of the tray of the ice tray unit in accordance with the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional ice tray.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the ice tray unit at line 8-8 shown in FIG. 7.

Claims

1. An ice tray unit configured to be used in a refrigerator, said ice tray unit comprising: a mounting section configured to be mounted to the refrigerator; anda tray made of metal and coupled to the mounting section, the tray being independent from the mounting section, the tray including a box section configured to pool water, anda plurality of partition plates coupled with the box section, the plurality of partition plates being independent from the box section.

2. The ice tray unit according to claim 1, wherein the mounting section is made of resin.

3. The ice tray unit according to claim 1, wherein the box section has a bottom having a plurality of grooves provided therein, and the plurality of partition plates are inserted into the grooves, respectively.

4. The ice tray unit according to claim 3, wherein intervals between grooves of the plurality of the grooves adjacent to each other are different from each other.

5. The ice tray unit according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of partition plates have end sections thereof having projections, respectively, andthe box section has an outer periphery having a plurality of holes provided therein, the plurality of holes being engaged with the projections, respectively.

6. The ice tray unit according to claim 5, wherein the box section is coupled with the partition plates by engaging the projections of the plurality of partition plates with the plurality of holes, respectively, and crimping the projections.

7. The ice tray unit according to claim 5, wherein the outer periphery of the box section has a bent shape, andthe end sections of the partition plates are crimped with the outer periphery.

8. The ice tray unit according to claim 1, wherein the box section has an outer periphery which is bent, andthe plurality of partition plates have end sections crimped with the bent outer periphery.

9. The ice tray unit according to claim 1, further comprising a film provided on the box section and the plurality of partition plates, the film covering a boundary between the box section and the partition plates.

10. The ice tray unit according to claim 9, wherein the film comprises a plated film.

11. The ice tray unit according to claim 9, wherein the film comprises a painted film.

12. The ice tray unit according to claim 1, further comprising a heater for heating the tray.

13. The ice tray unit according to claim 1, wherein the mounting section has a water inlet for supplying water to the tray.

14. A method of manufacturing an ice tray unit configured to be used in a refrigerator, said method comprising: providing a mounting section configured to be mounted to the refrigerator;providing a tray configured to pool water by coupling a plurality of partition plates with a box section made of metal; andcoupling the mounting section with the tray.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of partition plates has end sections thereof having projections, respectively,the box section has an outer periphery having a plurality of holes provided therein,said providing of the tray by coupling the plurality of partition plates with the box section comprises engaging the plurality of projections of the plurality of partition plates with the plurality of holes of the outer periphery of the box section, respectively.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said providing of the tray by coupling the plurality of partition plates with the box section further comprises engaging the plurality of projections of the plurality of partition plates with the plurality of holes of the outer periphery of the box section, respectively and crimping the plurality of projections.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said providing of the tray by coupling the plurality of partition plates with the box section further comprises bending the outer periphery of the box section as to crimp the end sections of the partition plates with the bent outer periphery.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said providing of the tray by coupling the plurality of partition plates with the box section comprises bending an outer periphery of the box section as to crimp the end sections of the partition plates by the bent outer periphery.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising after said providing of the tray by coupling the plurality of partition plates with the box section, providing a film on the box section and the partition plates, the film covering a boundary between the box section and the partition plates.