ICE DISPENSING APPARATUS
An ice dispensing apparatus is described which is capable of dispensing free ice or ice in a sealed bag. The apparatus has an ice manufacturing zone capable of converting incoming water to ice. An ice storage zone receives the ice from the ice manufacturing zone. An ice distribution zone has a distributor capable of receiving the ice from the ice storage zone and distributing the ice to a free ice chute or an ice bagging station wherein the free ice chute discharges ice to an exterior receptacle. The ice bagging station has a bag funnel capable of receiving ice and passing the ice in a downward flow of predetermined size. A bag storage device stores multiple bags prior to use. A bag grabbing device removes a bag from the bag storage device and bag filling hold the bag with a mouth opened to a size which is at least as large as the predetermined size whereby the ice passing through the bag funnel is collected in the bag. Bag closing pins hold the bag with the mouth in an orientation for sealing. A sealer converts the mouth of the bag to a seal.
The present invention is related to an apparatus for making and dispensing ice. More specifically, the present invention is related to a mobile apparatus capable of providing large volumes of ice for distribution into either user supplied receptacles or bags which are filled and sealed within the apparatus.
There are many large events which have a demand for high volumes of ice over a short period of time. Typical events include sporting events, political events, disaster locations, mobile medical care situations and the like. The most common way in which such events are supplied is to provide bagged ice in a refrigerated truck or trailer. This is costly and may be difficult to do, particularly, when the event is not accessible in a reasonable amount of time.
The present invention provides an ice dispensing apparatus which can be transported to a location by air, land or sea and which can act as a stand-alone ice manufacturing and dispensing station with the capability of dispensing in either a chute for collection in receptacles, or in sealed bags.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide an ice dispensing apparatus which is mobile, yet, capable of manufacturing and dispensing large volumes of ice.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an ice dispensing apparatus which can dispense ice directly from a chute or in sealed bags.
A particular feature of the present invention is the compact nature of the apparatus.
These and other advantages, as will be realized, are provided in an ice dispensing apparatus. The apparatus has an ice manufacturing zone capable of converting incoming water to ice. An ice storage zone receives the ice from the ice manufacturing zone. An ice distribution zone has a distributor capable of receiving the ice from the ice storage zone and distributing the ice to a free ice chute or an ice bagging station wherein the free ice chute discharges ice to an exterior receptacle. The ice bagging station has a bag funnel capable of receiving ice and passing the ice in a downward flow of predetermined size. A bag storage device stores multiple bags prior to use. A bag grabbing device removes a bag from the bag storage device and bag filling hold the bag with a mouth opened to a size which is at least as large as the predetermined size whereby the ice passing through the bag funnel is collected in the bag. Bag closing pins hold the bag with the mouth in an orientation for sealing. A sealer converts the mouth of the bag to a seal.
Yet another embodiment is provided in a method for providing ice. The method includes:
- converting water to ice in an ice manufacturing zone;
- transporting the ice from the manufacturing zone to an ice dispensing zone;
- moving a director to a position selected from a free ice dispense position and a bagged ice dispense position wherein when the director is in a free ice dispense position the ice passes through the director to a free ice chute;
- wherein when the director is in a bagged ice position the ice passes through the director into a bag wherein the bag has an open mouth which is held open by bag filling pins;
- and sealing said bag.
The present invention is specific to an apparatus for manufacturing and dispensing ice. More specifically, the present invention is related to an apparatus which can dispense ice from a chute, for capture by a receptacle provided by the user, or in sealed bags.
The invention will be described with reference to the various figures which form an integral, non-limiting, part of the specification. Throughout the specification, similar elements will be numbered accordingly.
An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in side view in
The shell is preferably mounted on a carriage, 18, which may have optional mobility elements, 20, such as wheels. The carriage may be integral to the shell or the shell may be removable from the carriage. In one embodiment the shell is transported to a location and then placed on a carriage during use. Transport can be by air, land or water.
A back side schematic view is illustrated in
The apparatus is illustrated in side cross-sectional schematic view in
The ice manufacturing zone, referred to herein as Zone A, receives water through a water coupler, 30. Water is preferably supplied from an exterior source such as a municipal water supply, a well, a lake, a pond, a water transport device or the like. An optional, but preferred, filter, 31, is provided to remove contaminants. The source of water is not particularly limited herein with the exception that the water must be suitable for the intended use. If the ice is to be used for drinking purposes the incoming water must be potable water as would be realized. The water enters an ice maker, 32, which freezes the water into ice cubes of a predetermined shape and size. The ice can be manufactured in the desired size or manufactured in a larger size and then reduced such as by crushing. Manufacturing at the intended size of dispensing is preferred. The construction of the ice maker is not particularly limited herein. The most common type of ice makers utilize adiabatic expansion of a refrigeration medium, such as a halogenated hydrocarbon, as the cooling mechanism. A compressor, 34, compresses the refrigeration medium thereby liberating heat which is expelled into an environment exterior to the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration medium is allowed to expand in an expansion chamber, 36, such as a coil, within the ice maker thereby absorbing heat.
The ice is transferred from the ice maker to the ice storage zone, Zone B, for storage until a request for ice is made by a user. In one embodiment, the ice is dispensed from the ice maker to a maker chute, 38, wherein it enters a storage transfer element, 40. The storage transfer element may be a conveyor which rotates, as indicated by the arrow, 42, wherein the ice is allowed to fall into the ice storage zone through a passage, 44, between the ice manufacturing zone and the ice storage zone. In an alternative embodiment an auger, 41, transfers the ice as illustrated in
The ice storage zone is preferable a storage cavity, 46, which functions as an ice holding tank within which ice is stored. A dispense unit transport element, 48, transfers the ice from the ice storage zone to a ice dispensing zone. In a preferred embodiment the dispense unit transport element is an auger, 50, which transports the ice by rotation. A collector, 52, preferably extending between the interior walls, partially encloses the auger and persuades all ice towards the auger. A sloped collector floor, 54, also persuades the ice towards the auger. The collector and collector floor work in concert to insure that ice is persuaded towards the auger by gravity. A motor, 56, turns the auger as would be realized. A secondary cavity, 58, below the storage cavity is preferably a dry area which may be used for storage and the like. An agitator, 60, agitates the ice within the cavity to prohibit the formation of pockets and bridging within the ice which are referred to in the art as “rat holes”. An auger is a preferred agitator due to its ability to move ice laterally. Other rotating shafts, such as a shaft with fingers extending there from can be used. A motor, 61, turns the agitator. When ice is poured into the top of a cavity and withdrawn from the bottom it is not uncommon for the ice to form bridges across structural elements with a void below wherein the ice below the bridge has been removed. The ice in the bridge can be substantial and can prohibit further migration of ice towards the auger. In practice, the operation ceases with the ice machine incorrectly sensing a full ice holding zone and the ice dispensing zone no longer receiving ice. The agitator agitates the ice thereby inhibiting formation of ice bridges within the storage cavity or breaking those that have formed. The agitator preferably operates on a predetermined time frame which is independent of the dispensing operation. The agitator may be continuous or it may operate on a fixed intermittent schedule. In a preferred embodiment the agitator operates on a predetermined schedule with an override for additional agitation on demand when a decrease in ice is determined at the ice dispensing zone since this is suggestive of ice bridge formation. In this instance additional rotation is triggered thereby dislodging any ice bridge. The agitation auger can turn in one direction or in a oscillatory motion.
The dispensing zone, Zone C, provides two dispensing options. In one option the ice is dispensed in free flow form, by a free chute, 62, and in another option the ice is dispensed in a sealed bag by a bag chute, 64.
The auger, 50, is preferably enclosed in an auger tube, 68, within the dispensing zone thereby prohibiting ice from escaping the flow path created by the auger. A hopper, 66, receives the ice from the auger of the dispense unit transport element. A director, 70, directs ice to either the free chute or a bagging station. If ice is directed by the distributor to the free chute the ice flows, preferably by gravity, to a free ice door (3 of
A partial cut-away view of the bagging station is provided in
In
In
Once the bag is full, as determined by weight or volume, the bag is sealed. With reference to
The bag is now ready for sealing as illustrated in
A flow chart illustrating the operation of the apparatus is provided in
If a request for ice is made at 102, the controller relays the type of request to the ice dispensing zone, Zone C at 104. A determination of bagged ice is made at 106. If bagged ice is not to be dispensed the controller determines if the director is over the free chute at 108. If the director is not over the free chute the director is moved at 110 and ice is dispensed at 112 to the free chute. If bagged ice is requested the controller determines if the director is over the funnel at 114. If the director is not over the funnel the director is moved at 116. A bag is grabbed from a bag stack at 118. For the purposes of illustration the bag is grabbed from the stack after with the director in proper location for dumping ice in the bag, however, it would be understood that the timing for placing a bag in ice receiving position may be independent of the director positioning. In one embodiment the bag may be placed in receiving position upon receiving a request for a bag of ice. In another embodiment a bag may be placed in receiving position after distribution of a previous bag thereby having a bag available prior to receiving a request for bagged ice.
The bag is opened at 120 and ice is added at 122 until the bag is determined to be full at 124. Once the bag is full the bag is partially closed at 126 and sealed at 128. The bag is dispensed at 130. The determination of a full bag may be by weight or by volume dispensed with weight being preferred.
The controller, 100, monitors the status of the ice storage zone, Zone B. It is preferable to maintain ice between a minimum level and a maximum level. The minimum level is a level below which there is insufficient ice for the anticipated demand. The maximum level may be a full ice storage zone or the maximum level necessary to insure adequate supply to the dispensing zone. For the purposes of discussion the maximum is referred to as full and the minimum is referred to as empty. A determination is made as to whether the ice holding zone is full at 132. If the ice holding zone is not full a determination is made as to whether the ice holding zone is below the minimum level at 134. Once the ice is below the minimum level an indication to add ice is made at 136.
When ice is requested from the ice manufacturing zone, Zone A, a determination is made as to whether the ice is frozen at 138. If the ice is not frozen a timer is set at 140, for a recheck after a predetermined time. Once the predetermined time is met the determination is made again as to whether the ice is frozen at 138. Once the ice is frozen it is dispensed to the ice storage zone at 142.
The controller is illustrated as a single unit even though one of skill in the art would appreciate that the controller may include separate controllers with manual interaction there between. A controller which integrates all three zones without human intervention is most preferred. In another embodiment certain elements of the controller may be separated. As would be realized the controller preferably has override mechanisms allowing a master user to operate certain elements of the apparatus independently of others for diagnostic and maintenance purposes.
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments without limit thereto. One of skill in the art would appreciate additional embodiments, alterations and adaptations which are not specifically recited but which are within the scope of the invention as more specifically set forth in the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. An ice dispensing apparatus comprising:
- an ice manufacturing zone capable of converting incoming water to ice;
- an ice storage zone capable of receiving said ice from said ice manufacturing zone;
- an ice distribution zone comprising a distributor capable of receiving said ice from said ice storage zone and distributing said ice to a free ice chute or an ice bagging station wherein said free ice chute discharges ice to an exterior receptacle; and
- wherein said ice bagging station comprises:
- a bag funnel capable of receiving said ice and passing said ice in a downward flow of predetermined size;
- a bag storage device capable of storing multiple bags prior to use;
- a bag grabbing device capable of removing a bag from said bag storage device;
- bag filling pins capable of holding said bag with a mouth opened to a size which is at least as large as said predetermined size whereby said ice passing through said bag funnel is collected in said bag;
- bag closing pins capable of holding said bag with said mouth in an orientation for sealing;
- a sealer capable of converting said mouth of said bag to a seal.
2. The ice dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said distributor comprises an angled floor comprising a peak and a downward slope on each side of said peak wherein one downward slope directs said ice to said free chute and one said downward slope directs said ice to said bag funnel.
3. The ice dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ice storage zone comprises an agitator.
4. The ice dispensing apparatus of claim 3 wherein said agitator comprises an auger.
5. The ice dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filling pins separate thereby opening said mouth.
6. The ice dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a conveyor between said ice manufacturing zone and said ice storage zone.
7. A method for providing ice comprising:
- converting water to ice in an ice manufacturing zone;
- transporting said ice from said manufacturing zone to an ice dispensing zone;
- moving a director to a position selected from a free ice dispense position and a bagged ice dispense position wherein when said director is in a free ice dispense position said ice passes through said director to a free ice chute;
- wherein when said director is in a bagged ice position said ice passes through said director into a bag wherein said bag has an open mouth which is held open by bag filling pins and sealing said bag.
8. The method for providing ice of claim 7 further comprising inserting bag sealing pins in said mouth prior to said sealing.
9. The method for providing ice of claim 7 further comprising transporting said ice from said ice manufacturing zone to an ice storage zone prior;
10. The method for providing ice of claim 7 further comprising transporting said ice by an auger.
11. The method for providing ice of claim 7 wherein said sealing said bag comprises thermally sealing said bag.
12. The method for providing ice of claim 7 further comprising agitating said ice.
13. The method for providing ice of claim 7 further comprising passing said ice from said director to a distributor wherein said distributor has a floor with a peak and a downward slope on either side of said peak.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 18, 2010
Publication Date: Dec 22, 2011
Applicant: Advanced Ice Technologies, Inc. (Tega Cay, SC)
Inventors: Eric James Strating (Tega Cay, SC), William A. Lenz (Chesterfield, SC)
Application Number: 12/818,338
International Classification: B65B 3/04 (20060101); F25C 1/00 (20060101); B65B 39/00 (20060101); F25C 5/18 (20060101); B65B 67/00 (20060101); F25D 25/04 (20060101);