Abstract: An ice transportation system includes an ice storage, a negative pressure system, a positive pressure system, a valve assembly, and an ice delivery control system. The ice storage delivers ice into the negative pressure system. The negative pressure system develops a partial vacuum that facilitates ice delivery from the negative pressure system into the valve assembly. The valve assembly receives the ice and meters the ice to the positive pressure system. The positive pressure system develops a plenum condition that facilitates ice delivery from the positive pressure system into an ice receptacle. The ice delivery control system controls the ice storage, the negative pressure system, the valve assembly, and the positive pressure system in the delivery of ice to the ice receptacle.

Abstract: An ice supply system includes an ice transport system, a volumetric feeder coupled with the ice transport system and adapted to deliver a preset volume of ice to an ice output system, and an ice delivery controller coupled with the ice transport system, the volumetric feeder, and the ice output system. The ice delivery controller receives ice requests from the ice output system, controls the delivery of ice from the ice transport system to the volumetric feeder in response to ice requests, controls the volumetric feeder to receive the preset volume of ice therein, and controls the delivery of the preset volume of ice from the volumetric feeder to the ice output system.

Abstract: An ice supply system delivers a product to a product engagement device having at least one product engagement jaw, and a discharge tube. An engaged product is delivered at an outlet of the tube. The ice supply system includes a sensor disposed in communication with a product stream to detect the product at a sensor elevation, and communicate the presence of product to a controller. The ice supply system further includes a product receptacle for receiving the engaged product. The product receptacle may be mobile or have an elevation adjustment, thereby providing the ability to create a product pile of a predetermined height beneath the discharge tube. In this configuration, the controller ceases the flow of product when the pile height reaches the sensor disposed in the discharge tube. Alternatively, the ice supply system includes a diverter to toggle between first and second flowpaths, thereby delivering engaged and non-engaged product.

Abstract: Vacuum pneumatic conveying apparatus and method are described to provide for a simple, economical, convenient (and preferably automatic) system for conveying ice on an as-required basis from a source such as an ice maker to one or more receptors at locations remote from that source. The system can be configured such that dispensing locations can be added or eliminated from the system or temporarily taken “off line” from the system without the need to change the basic system configuration or the central ice providing apparatus. The apparatus in various embodiments includes an ice source, a conveying conduit from the source to the receptor, a vacuum pump for moving the ice through the conduit by vacuum, and the receptor to collect the conveyed ice. The receptor may be an ice/beverage dispenser, an accumulator for retention and discharge to further devices, an intermediate storage dispenser, or an air lock device from where the ice can be projected over significant distances.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for production of ice and maintenance of an ice conveyance free of microbial contamination. Ozone is incorporated into water from which the ice is made, so that significant ozone content is present in the ice. This ice may be recovered for human consumption. The ice manufactured in the ice maker is conveyed through a conveyance system to one or more locations remote from the ice maker, where the ice is to be used. Ozone gas is evolved as the ice melts, sublimes or is abraded. The evolved ozone evolved penetrates into all areas of the system and kills substantially all microbial materials which are within the system. Cleanliness is thereafter maintained since passage of more ice and water though the system causes the evolution of additional ozone, which in turn kills any microbial contamination which may subsequently get into the system.