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: 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: 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: 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: An automated sanitizing system for a vacuum ice conveyance system generally includes a source of sanitizing solution, a source of ice, an ice hopper for association of the sanitizing solution with the ice and an outlet from the ice hopper for introduction of the association of solution and ice into a vacuum ice conveyance system. The sanitizing solution is produced at the ice hopper by mixing a concentrated sanitizing agent with water, whereafter the solution is sprayed over a harvest of ice as the ice is dropped into the hopper for conveyance through the vacuum ice conveyance system. The system is also adapted to associate clean water with the ice for rinsing from the conveyance system of the sanitizing agent.

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.

Abstract: An automated sanitizing system for a vacuum ice conveyance system generally comprises a source of sanitizing solution, a source of ice, an ice hopper for association of the sanitizing solution with the ice and an outlet from the ice hopper for introduction of the association of solution and ice into a vacuum ice conveyance system. The sanitizing solution is produced at the ice hopper by mixing a concentrated sanitizing agent with water, whereafter the solution is sprayed over a harvest of ice as the ice is dropped into the hopper for conveyance through the vacuum ice conveyance system. The system is also adapted to associate clean water with the ice for rinsing from the conveyance system of the sanitizing agent.

Abstract: A flow director system for transporting ice to a desired locale includes a conduit system and a gas flow gate assembly coupled with the conduit system for directing ice to the desired locale along a desired path defined by the conduit system. The gas flow gate assembly includes a plurality of flow gates disposed along the conduit system and a flow gate controller linked with the plurality of flow gates, whereby the flow gate controller opens and closes the flow gates to route ice flow along the conduit system. In addition, the flow director system preferably includes an ice maker for delivering ice into an ice container. The ice container, in turn, includes a plurality of interface apertures for channeling ice from the ice maker to the conduit system. Moreover, in operation, a gas flow is established through the ice container between the interface apertures to prevent ice blockage about the ice container.