Refrigeration – Processes – Congealing flowable material – e.g. – ice making
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-14
2001-08-28
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Processes
Congealing flowable material, e.g., ice making
C062S344000, C406S157000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279329
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to dispensing equipment and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a system for transporting ice from an ice source to a remote location.
2. Description of the Related Art
To accommodate consumer needs for ice as a condiment for consumption with beverages, it is common in the beverage industry to incorporate an ice bin with a beverage dispenser system. Thus, ice and a desired beverage can either be accessed directly from the beverage dispenser system via the storage bin or from an ice dispenser unit in engagement with the storage bin of the beverage dispenser system.
Unfortunately, such beverage dispenser systems and ice dispenser units do not normally manufacture large quantities of ice to meet peak consumer demand, such as for example, peak hour demands at fast food restaurants or convenience stores. To satisfy large demands for ice, these systems currently feature either automatic ice makers of limited capacity or require manual replenishment by an attendant from a large-capacity ice maker. Although large-capacity ice makers are commercially available to satisfy peak demand, there currently exists no satisfactory means by which to transfer large quantities of ice from an ice maker to an ice storage bin.
Inasmuch, ice is potentially exposed to impurities and contaminants from the atmosphere and from consumers. Providing a continuous supply of ice has long been problematic, especially if the path between the ice bin and the ice maker becomes blocked. Often, a path is blocked by the very ice being transported.
Accordingly, there is a long felt need for a system for optimally transporting large quantities of ice to a remote location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, 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 from the plurality of flow gates to route ice flow along the conduit system.
The flow director system preferably includes a plurality of ice discharge units, whereby each ice discharge unit is positioned at a different locale for delivering ice from the conduit system thereto. Additionally, the flow director system may include a drop-in ice bin for storing large quantities of ice, whereby the drop-in ice bin receives ice from the conduit system.
The flow director system preferably includes an ice maker for providing a supply of ice therefrom into an ice container, such as an ice trough, which transfers the ice from the ice maker to the conduit system. The ice trough includes an ice transport element, which is any suitable unbridging device, such as an auger, reversible auger, or paddle wheel, for delivering ice supplied from the ice maker into the conduit system.
The ice trough preferably includes a plurality of interface apertures for channeling ice from the ice trough to the conduit system. For example, the ice trough may include a first interface aperture and a second interface aperture in cooperative engagement with the first interface aperture. Thus, in operation, a gas flow is established across the ice trough between the first and the second interface apertures to enhance ice movement into the conduit system.
Furthermore, the flow director system includes a vacuum pump in cooperative engagement with the conduit system, whereby the vacuum pump and the gas flow gate assembly cooperatively apply a pump pressure, i.e. either a positive or a negative pressure, to the conduit system. The flow director system includes a filter in cooperative engagement with the conduit system for ensuring ice is not contaminated by the gas flow moving through the conduit system. The flow director system may further include a muffler in cooperative engagement with the vacuum pump.
In accordance with the present invention, a method for transporting ice to a desired locale includes forming a flow director system as described above. A plurality of flow gates is positioned along the conduit system and a flow gate controller is linked with the plurality of flow gates. As such, the flow gate controller opens and closes the flow gates to create a desired path for directing ice along the conduit system to a desired locale.
As discussed in part above, ice is channeled from an ice container, such as an ice trough, to the conduit system via the plurality of interface apertures. Inasmuch, for the above example, the gas flow across the ice trough between the first and second interface apertures is created by exerting a pump pressure on an active branch interface aperture, the first interface aperture. Thus, a gas flow may be established across the ice trough from the second interface aperture to the first interface aperture. Similarly, a gas flow may be established across the ice trough from the first interface aperture to the second interface aperture.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flow director system and associated method for transporting ice to a desired locale.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an interface aperture and associated method for establishing a draft across an ice container of a flow director system to prevent ice blockage about that ice container.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a gas flow gate assembly and associated method for directing ice along a designated path defined by a conduit system.
Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art in light of the following.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3877241 (1975-04-01), Wade
patent: 4104889 (1978-08-01), Hoenisch
patent: 4264243 (1981-04-01), Bentzen-Bilkvist
patent: 4422810 (1983-12-01), Boring
patent: 4862649 (1989-09-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5207073 (1993-05-01), Maier-Laxhuber et al.
patent: 5660506 (1997-08-01), Berge et al.
Berge J. Eric
Goff David W.
McClure Mark A.
Ali Mohammad M.
Lancer Icelink, L.L.C.
Makay Christopher L.
Tapolcai William E.
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