REFRIGERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow removal of an ice tray, and to carry out ice making operation without problems by recognizing timings of removal and attachment of the ice tray in a refrigerator provided with an automatic ice maker. SOLUTION: The refrigerator with the automatic ice maker is provided with an ice tray driving means 10 for operating the ice tray 5 by an ice separating mechanism, a water supply operation means 8 for carrying out water supply operation, an ice tray existence detecting means 14 for detecting existence of the ice tray 5, an ice making stopping means 26 for stopping ice tray driving operation and the water supply operation, an ice tray locking means 16 for electrically holding the ice tray 5 in the ice separating mechanism, and an automatic ice making control means 30 for controlling the ice tray locking means 26, the ice tray driving means 10, and the water supply operation means 8 by signals of the ice tray existence detecting means 14 and the ice making stopping means 26. By releasing the ice tray locking means 16 by the signal of the ice making stopping means 26, and controlling a start time of the ice making operation by the signal of the ice tray existence detecting means 5 after ice tray attachment, ice making time can be shortened without any ice making problems. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI