Patents by Inventor John Allen Broadbent
John Allen Broadbent has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240142152Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water system includes a water filter and a sump to hold water to be made into ice. The control system includes a controller adapted to determine a baseline freeze time, a baseline harvest time, and/or a baseline fill time after an initial set of ice making cycles and is further adapted to compare subsequent harvest times, freeze times, and/or fill times to the baseline freeze, harvest, and/or fill times to determine whether the ice maker needs maintenance. If controller determines that ice maker needs maintenance, controller can push a notification to a portable electronic device connected to the ice maker.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
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Patent number: 11906231Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water system includes a water filter and a sump to hold water to be made into ice. The control system includes a controller adapted to determine a baseline freeze time, a baseline harvest time, and/or a baseline fill time after an initial set of ice making cycles and is further adapted to compare subsequent harvest times, freeze times, and/or fill times to the baseline freeze, harvest, and/or fill times to determine whether the ice maker needs maintenance. If controller determines that ice maker needs maintenance, controller can push a notification to a portable electronic device connected to the ice maker.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
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Patent number: 11543161Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an ice formation device, and a condenser fan comprising a fan blade and a condenser fan motor for driving the fan blade. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device. The control system includes a controller adapted to operate the condenser fan motor at a first speed in a forward direction when the ice maker is making ice and adapted to operate the condenser fan motor at a second speed in a reverse direction when the ice maker is not making ice. Operating the condenser fan motor at the second speed in the reverse direction is sufficient to reduce the amount of dirt, lint, grease, dust, and/or other contaminants on or in the condenser.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, John Friend
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Publication number: 20210140690Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an ice formation device, and a condenser fan comprising a fan blade and a condenser fan motor for driving the fan blade. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device. The control system includes a controller adapted to operate the condenser fan motor at a first speed in a forward direction when the ice maker is making ice and adapted to operate the condenser fan motor at a second speed in a reverse direction when the ice maker is not making ice. Operating the condenser fan motor at the second speed in the reverse direction is sufficient to reduce the amount of dirt, lint, grease, dust, and/or other contaminants on or in the condenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2021Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, John Friend
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Patent number: 10982893Abstract: An automatic descale and sanitize process for an ice maker which requires less user intervention and time. During descaling, a main water reservoir of an ice maker sump is filled with water to a descale water level and mixes with a cleaner placed in the main water reservoir. The water/cleaner mixture is pumped through the ice maker to descale the water system and freeze plate. During sanitizing, the sump is filled with water to a sanitize water level, above the descale water level, and mixes with sanitizer placed in a sanitizer reservoir of the sump. The water/sanitizer mixture is pumped through the ice maker to sanitize the water system and freeze plate. During descaling, the sanitizer placed in the sanitizer reservoir does not come into contact with the water in the main water reservoir. After the descale and sanitize process, the ice maker can return to making ice.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
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Patent number: 10928110Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an ice formation device, and a condenser fan comprising a fan blade and a condenser fan motor for driving the fan blade. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device. The control system includes a controller adapted to operate the condenser fan motor at a first speed in a forward direction when the ice maker is making ice and adapted to operate the condenser fan motor at a second speed in a reverse direction when the ice maker is not making ice. Operating the condenser fan motor at the second speed in the reverse direction is sufficient to reduce the amount of dirt, lint, grease, dust, and/or other contaminants on or in the condenser.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, John Friend
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Publication number: 20200370812Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water system includes a water filter and a sump to hold water to be made into ice. The control system includes a controller adapted to determine a baseline freeze time, a baseline harvest time, and/or a baseline fill time after an initial set of ice making cycles and is further adapted to compare subsequent harvest times, freeze times, and/or fill times to the baseline freeze, harvest, and/or fill times to determine whether the ice maker needs maintenance. If controller determines that ice maker needs maintenance, controller can push a notification to a portable electronic device connected to the ice maker.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
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Patent number: 10801770Abstract: An ice storage bin with sliding sleeve metering device for filling buckets, totes or other ice containers. The metering device allows the containers to be filled from the ice storage bin with the exact volume of ice desired during each dispense. The metering device won't spill ice or water, is easily operated and prevents the ice container from being removed prematurely. The metering device can be operated either manually or automatically. The bucket or container is optionally a liner disposed in a bucket with a false bottom.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: MANITOWOC FOODSERVICE COMPANIES, LLCInventor: John Allen Broadbent
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Patent number: 10775089Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water system includes a water filter and a sump to hold water to be made into ice. The control system includes a controller adapted to determine a baseline freeze time, a baseline harvest time, and/or a baseline fill time after an initial set of ice making cycles and is further adapted to compare subsequent harvest times, freeze times, and/or fill times to the baseline freeze, harvest, and/or fill times to determine whether the ice maker needs maintenance. If controller determines that ice maker needs maintenance, controller can push a notification to a portable electronic device connected to the ice maker.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2016Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: True Manufacturing Company, Inc.Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
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Publication number: 20200003471Abstract: An ice maker having a refrigeration system, a water system and a control system. The refrigeration system includes an ice formation device. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device, and includes a water reservoir (e.g., a sump or float chamber) for holding water to be formed into ice and a discharge valve in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The control system includes an ice level sensor adapted to sense the ice level in an ice storage bin, and a controller adapted to cause water to drain from the water reservoir when the ice storage bin is full. Substantially or all of the water remaining in the water reservoir is drained such that while the ice maker is not making ice the water reservoir is empty of water. This reduces or prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, parasites, organisms, and/or other biological material in the water reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
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Patent number: 10480844Abstract: An ice maker having a refrigeration system, a water system and a control system. The refrigeration system includes an ice formation device. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device, and includes a water reservoir (e.g., a sump or float chamber) for holding water to be formed into ice and a discharge valve in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The control system includes an ice level sensor adapted to sense the ice level in an ice storage bin, and a controller adapted to cause water to drain from the water reservoir when the ice storage bin is full. Substantially or all of the water remaining in the water reservoir is drained such that while the ice maker is not making ice the water reservoir is empty of water.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
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Publication number: 20190257565Abstract: An automatic descale and sanitize process for an ice maker which requires less user intervention and time. During descaling, a main water reservoir of an ice maker sump is filled with water to a descale water level and mixes with a cleaner placed in the main water reservoir. The water/cleaner mixture is pumped through the ice maker to descale the water system and freeze plate. During sanitizing, the sump is filled with water to a sanitize water level, above the descale water level, and mixes with sanitizer placed in a sanitizer reservoir of the sump. The water/sanitizer mixture is pumped through the ice maker to sanitize the water system and freeze plate. During descaling, the sanitizer placed in the sanitizer reservoir does not come into contact with the water in the main water reservoir. After the descale and sanitize process, the ice maker can return to making ice.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
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Publication number: 20190219319Abstract: An ice storage bin with sliding sleeve metering device for filling buckets, totes or other ice containers. The metering device allows the containers to be filled from the ice storage bin with the exact volume of ice desired during each dispense. The metering device won't spill ice or water, is easily operated and prevents the ice container from being removed prematurely. The metering device can be operated either manually or automatically. The bucket or container is optionally a liner disposed in a bucket with a false bottom.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
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Patent number: 10330366Abstract: A water distributor for an ice maker having a first reservoir comprising a bottom and an inlet passageway, a central wall comprising a first central wall portion and a second central wall portion, and a second reservoir separated from the first reservoir by the central wall, the second reservoir comprising a bottom. A population of teeth separated by a population of gaps are disposed along the central wall. Water flows from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the population of gaps. A population of outlet passageways are disposed in the second central wall portion proximate the bottom of the second reservoir. Water exits the second reservoir substantially horizontally through the population of outlet passageways.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Kevin Knatt
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Patent number: 10317122Abstract: An automatic descale and sanitize process for an ice maker which requires less user intervention and time. During descaling, a main water reservoir of an ice maker sump is filled with water to a descale water level and mixes with a cleaner placed in the main water reservoir. The water/cleaner mixture is pumped through the ice maker to descale the water system and freeze plate. During sanitizing, the sump is filled with water to a sanitize water level, above the descale water level, and mixes with sanitizer placed in a sanitizer reservoir of the sump. The water/sanitizer mixture is pumped through the ice maker to sanitize the water system and freeze plate. During descaling, the sanitizer placed in the sanitizer reservoir does not come into contact with the water in the main water reservoir. After the descale and sanitize process, the ice maker can return to making ice.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: John Allen Broadbent, Paolo Moro
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Publication number: 20180106521Abstract: A water distributor for an ice maker having a first reservoir comprising a bottom and an inlet passageway, a central wall comprising a first central wall portion and a second central wall portion, and a second reservoir separated from the first reservoir by the central wall, the second reservoir comprising a bottom. A population of teeth separated by a population of gaps are disposed along the central wall. Water flows from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the population of gaps. A population of outlet passageways are disposed in the second central wall portion proximate the bottom of the second reservoir. Water exits the second reservoir substantially horizontally through the population of outlet passageways.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: John Allen BROADBENT, Kevin KNATT
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Patent number: 9863694Abstract: A method of interacting with a refrigeration appliance using a portable electronic device, wherein the refrigeration appliance comprises a refrigeration system comprising one or more refrigeration components and a controller adapted to control the one or more refrigeration components and wherein the portable electronic device comprises an application for interacting with the controller of the refrigeration appliance. The method comprising the steps of positioning the portable electronic device in proximity to the refrigeration appliance, establishing a wireless communication connection between the refrigeration appliance and the portable electronic device, and displaying information on the portable electronic device corresponding to the refrigeration appliance to which the portable electronic device is connected.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: True Manufacturing Company, Inc.Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
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Patent number: 9863682Abstract: A water distributor for an ice maker having a first reservoir comprising a bottom and an inlet passageway, a central wall comprising a first central wall portion and a second central wall portion, and a second reservoir separated from the first reservoir by the central wall, the second reservoir comprising a bottom. A population of teeth separated by a population of gaps are disposed along the central wall. Water flows from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the population of gaps. A population of outlet passageways are disposed in the second central wall portion proximate the bottom of the second reservoir. Water exits the second reservoir substantially horizontally through the population of outlet passageways.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: True Manufacturing Company, Inc.Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
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Patent number: 9644879Abstract: An ice maker includes a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The control system includes an air fitting disposed in the sump of the water system, a pneumatic tube, and a controller including a processor and an air pressure sensor. The air fitting defines a chamber in which air may be trapped and includes openings through which water in the sump is in fluid communication with the air in the chamber. The pneumatic tube is in fluid communication with the air pressure sensor and the air fitting. The air pressure sensor is adapted to sense a pressure corresponding to a sump water level. The controller is adapted to control the operation of the refrigeration system and the operation of the water system based upon the sump water level and to detect one or more failure modes of the water system based upon the sump water level.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
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Publication number: 20160334157Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water system includes a water filter and a sump to hold water to be made into ice. The control system includes a controller adapted to determine a baseline freeze time, a baseline harvest time, and/or a baseline fill time after an initial set of ice making cycles and is further adapted to compare subsequent harvest times, freeze times, and/or fill times to the baseline freeze, harvest, and/or fill times to determine whether the ice maker needs maintenance. If controller determines that ice maker needs maintenance, controller can push a notification to a portable electronic device connected to the ice maker.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: John Allen BROADBENT, Paolo MORRO