Patents by Inventor Sonoo Kato

Sonoo Kato 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).

  • Publication number: 20100132396
    Abstract: An ice dispenser includes a discharge mechanism (30) provided between an ice storage room (10) having an ice discharge opening (14) provided at a bottom portion, and a chute (20) for guiding ice received at a reception/delivery opening (22) arranged away from a position directly under the discharge opening (14). The discharge mechanism (30) includes a fixed member (32) extending from under the discharge opening (14) to an edge portion of the reception/delivery opening (22), and a moving member (36) which is reciprocated along the fixed member (32) by a drive section (40), and has a plurality of vertically penetrating holes (38) formed spaced apart in a moving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Sonoo Kato, Chiyoshi Toya
  • Patent number: 6148633
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus is provided, in which an ice guide plate is capable of being fixed between an ice-water tank and ice-making plates without any fastener such as a screw. To realize such an arrangement, a convex portion (20) is formed on an inner surface of the bottom at the front end side of the ice-water tank (10), and the front end portion of the ice guide plate (19) is engaged therein so that a gap is formed between the convex portion (20) and a front wall portion of the ice-water tank (10). The rear end portion of the ice guide plate (19) is engaged with a groove 21 formed in a rear wall face 3a of the ice making chamber 3. As a result, the ice guide plate (19) can be fixed between the ice-water tank (10) and the ice-making plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hatsuo Yamada, Tadashi Sakai, Sonoo Kato, Douglas Troy Steward
  • Patent number: 6116038
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus comprises: an ice making unit including ice making plates having ice making surfaces, and a water sprinkler for sprinkling ice water on the ice making surfaces; a reservoir tank for receiving the ice water flowing down on the ice making surfaces; and a feed pump including a pump section for supplying the ice water reserved in the reservoir tank to the water sprinkler, and a motor section for driving the pump section. The pump section is accommodated, together with the ice making unit and the reservoir tank, in an ice making chamber formed within a main body of the ice making apparatus. The motor section is accommodated, together with a control box containing therein various electrical components, in an upper machine chamber formed within the main body. The upper machine chamber is formed at the back of the ice making chamber and is partitioned from the ice making chamber by an L-shaped thermally insulating panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hatsuo Yamada, Tadashi Sakai, Sonoo Kato
  • Patent number: 6112533
    Abstract: An ice-making water tank 30, which has a main body 50, is disposed generally below ice-making plates 28. A deep portion 51 of smaller cross-section is formed in the main body 50. The discharge inlet 56 of an overflow pipe 55 is disposed in the central portion of the water surface in the main body 50, and the height of the discharge outlet is set at the upper limit H of the level of the ice-making water. A float switch 57, which sets the lower limit of the water level, is disposed in the central portion of the water surface in the deep portion. Thus, water levels which are almost equal to the prescribed upper limit H and lower limit L can be set even if the ice-making water tank is mounted at an inclined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sonoo Kato, Hatsuo Yamada, Tadashi Sakai, Douglas Troy Steward
  • Patent number: 6109055
    Abstract: A down-flow-type ice-making machine has an easily detachable pump and a level sensor mounted in a water reservoir, which allows for easy maintenance. The water reservoir is provided under a horizontal wall of a rear wall of an insulated box. A through-hole is provided in the horizontal wall. The pump and the level sensor are passed through the through-hole and fixed at a predetermined position in the water reservoir using a single bracket. The bracket is detachably mounted on the horizontal wall from the upper exterior of the horizontal wall, that is, from the exterior of the insulated box, so that the pump and the level sensor are easily detached during maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sonoo Kato, Hatsuo Yamada, Tadasi Sakai, Yoshio Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6105385
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent ice making water from splashing outside of an ice making water tank with a simple means. Flat members are provided at the right and left outermost portions of an ice making unit such that the front ends, the rear ends and the lower ends of the flat members are elongated forward, rearward and downward with respect to the front ends, the rear ends and the lower ends of the ice making plates to prevent the ice making water from splashing to the right and left outside of the ice making plates. Moreover the flat members can be provided as side plates comprising the ice making unit. Further, notches can be provided at the lower front corner portions of the side plates. Or a front cover having an inclined portion with the lower end inclined to the rearward can be provided forward the front of the ice making unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sonoo Kato, Hatsuo Yamada, Tadashi Sakai, Douglas Troy Steward
  • Patent number: 6058732
    Abstract: An ice making machine is provided comprising an ice making chamber and an ice reservoir defined by an insulating material. Ice making plates are vertically disposed beneath a water sprinkler for receiving ice-making water supplied therefrom. The ice-making machine further comprises an ice-making water tank for storing the ice-making water, and an assembly of a pump and a motor for supplying the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank to the water sprinkler. An insulating rear panel of a predetermined shape is arranged along the ice making plates between a machine chamber and the ice making chamber. The rear panel is formed by bending one insulating panel into the predetermined shape at a given portion thereof for the arrangement between the machine chamber and the ice making chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sonoo Kato, Hatsuo Yamada, Tadashi Sakai, Douglas Troy Steward