Ice conveyer

Abstract

An ice making conveyer producing ice cubes in any size and form designed to be utilized in household or commercial units. This conveyer having three possible shapes: triangle shape of the ice making conveyer, square shape of ice making conveyer and oval or circular shape of the ice making conveyer. Conveyer might be utilized in three types of the refrigerators: where freezer is located on the top of food section of the refrigerator, where freezer is located side by side, no matter on the right or left side of the food section of the refrigerator, where freezer is located underneath the food section of the refrigerator. Present conveyer includes a plastic frame and conveyer device that traverse between freezer and food section of the refrigerator or inside of the freezer. This conveyer allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Description

Priority claimed from Provisional Application U.S. 61/009,185 filed on Dec. 26, 2007.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is generally relates to the field of ice cube making machines. In particular, it relates to an ice cube making conveyer that includes a plastic frame and conveyer device that traverse between freezer and food section of the refrigerator or inside of the freezer. This ice making conveyer is designed to be utilized in household or commercial units. This conveyer allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, an ice maker is installed in a refrigerator or a vending machine to make ice cubes out of water which is supplied to the ice maker.

Two common types of ice making machines exists: household units that are combined with refrigerators, and commercial units that are used by restaurants, bars, hospitals, hotels, and other establishments that require large amounts of ice.

A problem faced by many ice cube makers is that of corrosion. Ice cube maker housings are traditionally made of metal which eventually corrodes due to water splashing about the interior of the machine when water is dripped onto the mold and when the cubes are released from the mold during the harvesting operation, and also due to humidity that results from the continuous presence of liquid water in the machine. Internal components of the ice cube maker exposed to the splashing water and humidity also suffer from corrosion. Electronic components face the additional hazard of short circuiting in this watery environment.

Another common problem icemakers face is the difficulty of servicing. Ideally, the refrigeration components and the control electronics should be isolated from the splashing water and humidity of the ice maker yet still allow easy access for repair.

Moreover, problem existing icemakers face is that of the metal particles or powder inserted within the ice cubes. Ice cube maker housings are traditionally made of metal and have plurality of rotating and rubbing parts which during ice making process result in constant milling and grinding some of the metal particles and powder into the ice bin and eventually into the formed ice cubes itself.

Another existing icemakers' drawback is that the all parts, units and junctions of the ice maker body are solidly jointed together. Due to such design a stoppage or even a breakage of the mechanism will occur in the case of formation of the condensate or development of the ice.

Further, design of some of the existing icemakers does not provide any method of filling up ice forms with the water in two planes, which requires perfect level. Other designs have problem with the lower part of the conveyer, which has sagging of the conveyer which leads to inability of adequate contact of the heater with the conveyer.

Another common drawback existing in the current ice making machines is that of the location of the transmission outside of the icemaker's frame therefore it must be located inside of the refrigerator's wall or in ice bin.

It is therefore desirable to provide a mechanism for making an ice cubes which avoid these drawbacks of current ice making machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Present invention intended to be utilized for the ice cube making conveyer, which includes a plastic frame and conveyer device that traverse between freezer and food section of the refrigerator or inside of the freezer. This ice making conveyer is designed to be utilized in household or commercial units. This conveyer allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Present invention of the ice making conveyer might be utilized in particular types of the refrigerators where freezer is located on the top of the food section of the refrigerator. Furthermore, present invention of the ice making conveyer might be utilized in particular types of refrigerators where freezer is located side by side, regardless of the side—right or left side of food section of the refrigerator. Additionally, present invention of the ice making conveyer might be utilized in the particular types of the refrigerators where freezer is located underneath of the food section of the refrigerator.

Conveyer of the present invention consists of form filled with the water and which is traversing between freezer and food section of the refrigerator or inside of the freezer itself according to the enclosed phase of rotation. One phase of rotation consists of traversing of the form filled with the water has a starting point at the location where water is filling into the form through water filling tube and an ending point at the location of the ice discharge to the ice bin. Then traversing of the form is continued from point at the location of the ice discharge to the ice bin toward point at the location where water is filling into the form through water filling tube.

Depending upon the type of the refrigerators where freezer is located on the top of the food section of the refrigerator or where freezer is located side by side, regardless of the side—right or left side of food section of the refrigerator or where freezer is located underneath of the food section of the refrigerator design of the conveyer will be differ respectfully, however, the concept for all types of refrigerators will be the same.

Design of the ice cube making conveyer does not have united housing as it was in antecedent ice making devices. Present invention propose to put its design into effect in form of transporting tape made out of plastic or polyethylene material. Where transporting tape traversing along rotating or gliding rollers. Said rollers are driven by drive pulley with drive unit. Where drive pulley with drive unit attached directly to the wall of the refrigerator and covered with the frame of the conveyer canal. Where the frame of the conveyer canal made out of any plastic material. Such transporting tape may be located in any consumers' convenient place inside of the any type of refrigerator.

Location of the drive pulley with the drive unit of the ice making conveyer does not have a particular location in the design of the present invention of the ice making conveyer because rotating of the conveyer could be realized in any point of the conveyer along the entire length or entire periphery of the conveyer's transporting tape. Such design of the conveyer and its drive pulley flexible location gives considerable opportunity in diversification and variety of the potential design of the conveyer. Such design of the conveyer and its drive pulley flexible location also gives more effective utilization of the volume of the refrigerator and allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Forms for the ice made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon situated on the transporting tape and attached to each other or having shape of unified tape made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon.

Discharge of the ice from the silicon form is realized by means of fracture of the flexion of the silicon form, which does not require heating of the form.

Conveyer of the present invention is situated inside of the cover frame, which is air ducks. Arrow showing entrance of the air from the evaporator coil and exit of the cold air into the ice bin. Cold air while exiting to the ice bin is cooling it at the same time. In the case where such cooling of the ice bin is not adequate then additional ventilation could be easily provided from the freezer.

Design of the drive pulley with the drive unit may be any existing design of the drive pulley unit which is capable of moving transporting tape made out of plastic or polyethylene material.

Present invention of the ice making conveyer offer to situate ice bin inside of the food section of the refrigerator for the following advantages:

• a. It is easy to achieve required temperature in the range of 24°-28° F. from the air coming from the form of the ice made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon.
• b. Under temperature range of 24°-28° F. ice cubes appear to be fresh and shining and do not absorb the smell or odor from the refrigerator. Moreover, under temperature range of 24°-28° F. ice cubes do not freeze together which occurring under lower temperature range. Ice cubes produced under temperature range of 24°-28° F. appear to be clear and not cloudy in the drink.

Proposed design of the present invention of the ice maker conveyer allows create ice cubes in various sizes and shapes in comparison to the currently available designs of the ice makers where ice cubes must be in particular shape and size for certain types of refrigerators. Proposed design of the present invention of the ice maker conveyer allows refrain from currently common device “crash ice”, which responsible for the crashing of the ice in order to discharge it from the ice making conveyer and into the ice bin.

Operation of the ice making conveyer must be performed according to the system “timer” using 3-4 stages of the temperature sensor. Timer is a device which is regulates continuance or duration of the cycle. Cycle is a time necessary for the freezing the ice in the form. For example: if we have three sensors which are regulate temperature at ranges 0°-5°-10° F., then timer will choose duration of the cycle 1-1.5-2 hrs. accordingly. When set time period is over, timer is switching on the drive unit with the drive pulley. Required number of the cycles might be selected by means of using of the push button regulator type or optical regulator of the level of the ice in the ice bin might be used. Present invention of ice making conveyer will produce a minimum of twenty pieces of ice cubed in any shape and size within one cycle. Where within two cycles of the present invention of ice making conveyer will produce forty pieces of ice cubes in any shape and size, which is constitute an entire day supply of the ice for the entire family.

Cycle is a time necessary for the freezing the ice in the form. Duration of the cycle and time necessary for freezing the ice depends on size of the ice and temperature in the freezer. Present invention of ice making conveyer allows to use length of conveyer form for the ice as of its entire length same as part of it. In case where only ¼ or ⅓ or ½ length of the transporting conveyer form is filled with water, then for one full rotation phase we have 4 or 3 or 2 cycles accordingly. ⅓ of the length of the conveyer's form might be used in case where conveyer having shape of a triangle. ¼ of the length of the conveyer's form might be used in case where conveyer having square shape. ½ of the length of the conveyer's form might be used in case where conveyer having circular or oval shape. Any other shape of the conveyer's form is possible.

Filling of the water into the form for the ice from the water filling tube might be executed according to in the following designs:

• a. In the case where utilized conveyer, having horizontal transporting tape, the water further filling in the form for the ice through the recessions in the form for ice.
• b. In the case where utilized conveyer having inclined transporting tape, the water further filling in the recessions of the form for ice using the gravity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND THE BEST MODE

Present invention intended to be utilized for the ice cube making conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, which includes a plastic frame 5 and conveyer device that traverse between freezer 11, FIG. 1-3, and food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 1-3, or inside of the freezer. This ice making conveyer 15, FIG. 1-3, is designed to be utilized in household or commercial units. This conveyer allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 through 3, wherein like reference numerals refer to the elements throughout.

The embodiment of the device 15 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9 includes:

Embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 might be utilized in particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located on the top of the food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 1. Furthermore, present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 might be utilized in particular types of refrigerators where freezer 11 is located side by side, regardless of the side—right or left side of food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG, 2. Additionally, embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 might be utilized in the particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located underneath of the food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 3.

Conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, of the present invention consists of form 2, FIG. 4-6, filled with the water and which is traversing between freezer 11, FIG. 1-3, and food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 1-3, or inside of the freezer itself according to the enclosed phase of rotation. One phase of rotation consists of traversing of the form 2 filled with the water has a starting point at the location where water is filling into the form through water filling tube 7 and an ending point at the location of the ice discharge to the ice bin 6. Then traversing of the form 2 is continued from point at the location of the ice discharge to the ice bin 6 toward point at the location where water is filling into the form through water filling tube 7.

Depending upon the type of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located on the top of the food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 1, or where freezer 11 is located side by side, regardless of the side—right or left side of food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG, 2, or where freezer 11 is located underneath of the food section of the refrigerator 12, FIG. 3 design of the conveyer 15 will be different (see FIG. 4-6), however the concept for all types of refrigerators will be the same.

Design of the ice cube making conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6 does not have united housing as it was in antecedent ice making devices. Present invention propose to put its design into effect in form of transporting tape 1 made out of plastic or polyethylene material. Where transporting tape 1 traversing along rotating or gliding rollers 3. Said rollers 3 are driven by drive pulley with drive unit 4. Where drive pulley with drive unit 4 is attached directly to the wall of the refrigerator and covered with the frame of the conveyer canal 5. Where the frame of the conveyer canal 5 made out of any plastic material. Such transporting tape 1 may be located in any consumers' convenient place inside of the any type of refrigerator.

Location of the drive pulley with the drive unit 4, FIG. 4-6, of the ice making conveyer 15 does not have a particular location in the design of the present invention of the ice making conveyer because rotating of the conveyer 15 could be realized in any point of the conveyer along the entire length or entire periphery of the conveyer's transporting tape 1. Such design of the conveyer and its drive pulley flexible location gives considerable opportunity in diversification and variety of the potential design of the conveyer. Such design of the conveyer and its drive pulley flexible location also gives more effective utilization of the volume of the refrigerator and allows easy, inexpensive, safe, clean, and compact way of producing ice cubes in any size and form.

Forms for the ice 2, FIG. 4-6, made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon situated on the transporting tape 1 and attached to each other or having shape of unified tape made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon.

Discharge of the ice 9, FIG. 4-6, from the silicon form 2 is realized by means of fracture of the flexion of the silicon form 10, which does not require heating of the form.

Conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, of the present invention is situated inside of the cover frame 5, which is air ducks. Arrow 8 showing entrance of the air from the evaporator coil and exit of the cold air into the ice bin 6. Cold air while exiting to the ice bin 6 is cooling it at the same time. In the case where such cooling of the ice bin 6 is not adequate then additional ventilation could be easily provided from the freezer 11, FIG. 1-3.

Design of the drive pulley with the drive unit 4, FIG. 4-6, may be any existing design of the drive pulley unit which is capable of moving transporting tape 1 made out of plastic or polyethylene material.

Present invention of the ice making conveyer offer to situate ice bin 6, FIG. 4-6, inside of the food section of the refrigerator for the following advantages:

• a. It is easy to achieve required temperature in the range of 24°-28° F. from the air coming from the form of the ice 2, FIG. 4-6, made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon.
• b. Under temperature range of 24°-28° F. ice cubes appear to be fresh and shining and do not absorb the smell or odor from the refrigerator. Moreover, under temperature range of 24°-28° F. ice cubes do not freeze together which occurring under lower temperature range. Ice cubes produced under temperature range of 24°-28° F. appear to be clear and not cloudy in the drink.

Proposed design of the present invention of the ice maker conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, allows create ice cubes in various sizes and shapes in comparison to the currently available designs of the ice makers where ice cubes must be in particular shape and size for certain types of refrigerators. Proposed design of the present invention of the ice maker conveyer 15 allows refrain from currently common device “crash ice”, which responsible for the crashing of the ice in order to discharge it from the ice making conveyer and into the ice bin.

Operation of the ice making conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, must be performed according to the system “timer” using 3-4 stages of the temperature sensor. Timer is a device which is regulates continuance or duration of the cycle. Cycle is a time necessary for the freezing the ice in the form 2, FIG. 4-6. For example: if we have three sensors which are regulate temperature at ranges 0°-5°-10° F., then timer will choose duration of the cycle 1-1.5-2 hrs. accordingly. When set time period is over timer is switching drive unit with the drive pulley on, 4, FIG. 4-6. Required number of the cycles might be selected by means of using of the push button regulator type or optical regulator of the level of the ice in the ice bin might be used. Present invention of ice making conveyer 15 will produce a minimum of twenty pieces of ice cubed in any shape and size within one cycle. Where within two cycles of the present invention of ice making conveyer 15 will produce forty pieces of ice cubes in any shape and size, which is constitute an entire day supply of the ice for the entire family.

Cycle is a time necessary for the freezing the ice in the form 2, FIG. 4-6. Duration of the cycle and time necessary for freezing the ice depends on size of the ice and temperature in the freezer. Present invention of ice making conveyer allows to use length of conveyer form for the ice 2, FIG. 4-6 as of its entire length same as part of it. In case where only ¼ or ⅓ or ½ length of the transporting conveyer form 2 is filled with water, then for one full rotation phase we have 4 or 3 or 2 cycles accordingly. ⅓ of the length of the conveyer's form might be used in case where conveyer having shape of a triangle (see FIG. 9A). ¼ of the length of the conveyer's form might be used in case where conveyer having square shape (see FIG. 9B). ½ of the length of the conveyer's form might be used in case where conveyer having circular or oval shape (see FIG. 9C). Any other shape of the conveyer's form is possible.

Filling of the water into the form for the ice 2, FIG. 4-6, from the water filling tube 7 might be executed according to in the following designs:

• a. In the case where utilized conveyer 15, FIG. 4-6, having horizontal transporting tape 1, the water further filling in the form for the ice 2 through the recessions in the form for ice 2.
• b. In the case where utilized conveyer having inclined transporting tape 1, FIG. 4-6, the water further filling in the recessions of the form for ice 2 using the gravity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 which might be utilized in the particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located on the top of food section of the refrigerator 12.

FIG. 2 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 which might be utilized in the particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located side by side, no matter on the right or left side of the food section of the refrigerator 12.

FIG. 3 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 which might be utilized in the particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located underneath the food section of the refrigerator 12.

FIG. 4 depicts embodiment of the present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 where ice making conveyer is utilized in particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located on the top of the food section of the refrigerator 12. 1—transporting tape made out of plastic or polyethylene material; 2—forms for the ice made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon; 3—rotating or gliding driven rollers; 4—drive pulley with the drive unit; 5—frame of the conveyer canal—air ducks made out of any plastic material; 6—ice bin; 7—water filling tube; 8—direction of the air movement; 9—ice; 10—location of the flexion of the silicon form and discharge of the ice.

FIG. 5 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15, which might be utilized in the particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located side by side, no matter on the right or left side of the food section of the refrigerator 12. 1—transporting tape made out of plastic or polyethylene material; 2—forms for the ice made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon; 3—rotating or gliding driven rollers; 4—drive pulley with the drive unit; 5—frame of the conveyer canal—air ducks made out of any plastic material; 6—ice bin; 7—water filling tube; 8—direction of the air movement; 9—ice; 10—location of the flexion of the silicon form and discharge of the ice.

FIG. 6 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 which might be utilized in the particular types of the refrigerators where freezer 11 is located underneath of the food section of the refrigerator 12. 1—transporting tape made out of plastic or polyethylene material; 2—forms for the ice made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon; 3—rotating or gliding driven rollers; 4—drive pulley with the drive unit; 5—frame of the conveyer canal—air ducks made out of any plastic material; 6—ice bin; 7—water filling tube; 8—direction of the air movement; 9—ice; 10—location of the flexion of the silicon form and discharge of the ice.

FIG. 7 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 which might be utilized in all three types of the refrigerators. A—Where freezer 11 is located on the top of the food section of the refrigerator 12. B—Where freezer 11 is located side by side, no matter on the right or left side of the food section of the refrigerator 12. C—Where freezer 11 is located underneath of the food section of the refrigerator 12.

FIG. 8 depicts embodiment of present invention of the ice making conveyer 15 which might be utilized in all three types of the refrigerators. A—Where freezer 11 is located on the top of the food section of the refrigerator 12. B—Where freezer 11 is located side by side, no matter on the right or left side of the food section of the refrigerator 12. C—Where freezer 11 is located underneath of the food section of the refrigerator 12.

FIG. 9 depicts three of the possible designs of the ice making conveyer shapes: A—triangle shape of the ice making conveyer; B—square shape of ice making conveyer; C—oval or circular shape of the ice making conveyer.

Claims

1: An ice making conveyer traversing between freezer and food section of the refrigerator or inside of the freezer compartment of the refrigerator comprising of:

transporting tape made out of plastic or polyethylene material; where transporting tape traversing along rotating or gliding rollers;

forms filled with the water for the ice, made out of rubber, plastic, or silicon, having situated on the transporting tape and attached to each other or having shape of unified tape;

rotating or gliding driven rollers; said rollers are driven by drive pulley with drive unit;

drive pulley with the drive unit; where drive pulley with drive unit attached directly to the wall of the refrigerator and covered with the frame of the conveyer canal;

frame of the conveyer canal—air ducks made out of any plastic material;

ice bin;

water filling tube;

discharger of the ice, where discharge of the ice from the silicon form is realized by means of fracture of the flexion of the silicon form, without heating of the form;

where such conveyer having three proposed shapes: triangle shape of the ice making conveyer; square shape of ice making conveyer; oval or circular shape of the ice making conveyer;

where such conveyer might be utilized in three currently available types of the refrigerators: where freezer is located on the top of food section of the refrigerator; where freezer is located side by side with the food section, regardless of the right or left side; where freezer is located underneath the food section of the refrigerator.

2: ice making conveyer according to claim 1, wherein one phase of rotation consists of traversing of the form filled with the water, having a starting point at the location where water is filling into the form through water filling tube and an ending point at the location of the ice discharge to the ice bin; then traversing of the form is continued from an ending point at the location of the ice discharge to the ice bin toward a starting point at the location where water is filling into the form through water filling tube.

3: ice making conveyer according to claim 1, wherein filling of the water into the form for the ice from the water filling tube in the case where utilized conveyer, having horizontal transporting tape, the water further filling in the form for the ice through the recessions in the form for ice.

4: ice making conveyer according to claim 1, wherein filling of the water into the form for the ice from the water filling tube in the case where utilized conveyer having inclined transporting tape, the water further filling in the recessions of the form for ice using the gravity.