Ice distribution system and method

• US 10,066,862 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reddy Ice LLC
• Original Assignee: Reddy Ice Corporation (Stone Canyon Industries Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Metzger, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Landrum, Ned
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zec, Filip
• Application Number:
  US15/477,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20170205129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/30 Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 39/007 Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/52 using roller-ways or endless conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/32 Applications of transfer devices such devices per se B65G47/74
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/00 Producing ice F25C3/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/187 with ice level sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/24 for storing bins ice bins F25C5/182

Abstract

An ice distribution system and method according to which ice-filled bags are distributed within a unit such as, for example, an ice merchandiser.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a temperature-controlled storage unit defining an internal region in which a plurality of ice-filled bags are adapted to be stored, a portion of the internal region being an available space in which a first ice-filled bag is adapted to be disposed;

one or more tracks extending within the internal region; and

a component adapted to support the first ice-filled bag before the first ice-filled bag is disposed in the available space;

wherein the component is coupled to the one or more tracks;

wherein the component is movable along the one or more tracks;

wherein the component supports the first ice-filled bag during movement of the component along the one or more tracks;

wherein the apparatus further comprises a first sensor adapted to identify the available space; and

wherein the apparatus further comprises a second sensor adapted to determine whether the component will be blocked during the movement of the component along the one or more tracks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first sensor is movable with the component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is coupled to the component.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drive motor adapted to cause the component to move along the one or more tracks.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ice-filled bag is discharged from the component to dispose the first ice-filled bag in the available space.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ice maker adapted to make ice that fills an empty bag to produce the first ice-filled bag.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a hopper operably coupled to the ice maker and adapted to receive the ice from the ice maker before the ice fills the empty bag to produce the first ice-filled bag.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an enclosure connected to the temperature-controlled storage unit, wherein at least a portion of the hopper is enclosed by the enclosure.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is movable with the component.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a temperature-controlled storage unit that defines an internal region in which a plurality of ice-filled bags are adapted to be stored,

wherein a portion of the internal region is an available space in which a first ice-filled bag is adapted to be disposed,

wherein one or more tracks extend within the internal region, and

wherein a component is coupled to the one or more tracks;

supporting, using the component, the first ice-filled bag before the first ice-filled bag is disposed in the available space; and

moving the component along the one or more tracks;

wherein the component supports the first ice-filled bag during movement of the component along the one or more tracks;

wherein the method further comprises identifying, using a first sensor, the available space; and

wherein the method further comprises determining, using a second sensor, whether the component will be blocked during the movement of the component along the one or more tracks.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the first sensor is movable with the component.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first sensor is coupled to the component.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing, using a drive motor, the component to move along the one or more tracks.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising discharging the first ice-filled bag from the component to dispose the first ice-filled bag in the available space.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

making, using an ice maker, ice; and

filling an empty bag with the ice to produce the first ice-filled bag.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the ice in a hopper operably coupled to the ice maker before filling the empty bag with the ice to produce the first ice-filled bag.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein an enclosure is connected to the temperature-controlled storage unit, and wherein at least a portion of the hopper is enclosed by the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first sensor is movable with the component.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a temperature-controlled storage unit defining an internal region in which a plurality of ice-filled bags are adapted to be stored, a portion of the internal region being an available space in which a first ice-filled bag is adapted to be disposed;

one or more tracks extending within the internal region; and

a component adapted to support the first ice-filled bag before the first ice-filled bag is disposed in the available space;

wherein the component is coupled to the one or more tracks;

wherein the component is movable along the one or more tracks;

wherein the component supports the first ice-filled bag during movement of the component along the one or more tracks; and

wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensor adapted to determine whether the component will be blocked during the movement of the component along the one or more tracks.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a drive motor adapted to cause the component to move along the one or more tracks.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first ice-filled bag is discharged from the component to dispose the first ice-filled bag in the available space.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an ice maker adapted to make ice that fills an empty bag to produce the first ice-filled bag.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a hopper operably coupled to the ice maker and adapted to receive the ice from the ice maker before the ice fills the empty bag to produce the first ice-filled bag.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising an enclosure connected to the temperature-controlled storage unit, wherein at least a portion of the hopper is enclosed by the enclosure.

25. A method, comprising:

providing a temperature-controlled storage unit that defines an internal region in which a plurality of ice-filled bags are adapted to be stored,

wherein a portion of the internal region is an available space in which a first ice-filled bag is adapted to be disposed,

wherein one or more tracks extend within the internal region, and

wherein a component is coupled to the one or more tracks;

supporting, using the component, the first ice-filled bag before the first ice-filled bag is disposed in the available space; and

moving the component along the one or more tracks;

wherein the component supports the first ice-filled bag during the movement of the component along the one or more tracks; and

wherein the method further comprises determining, using a sensor, whether the component will be blocked during the movement of the component along the one or more tracks.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising causing, using a drive motor, the component to move along the one or more tracks.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising discharging the first ice-filled bag from the component to dispose the first ice-filled bag in the available space.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

making, using an ice maker, ice; and

filling an empty bag with the ice to produce the first ice-filled bag.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving the ice in a hopper operably coupled to the ice maker before filling the empty bag with the ice to produce the first ice-filled bag.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein an enclosure is connected to the temperature-controlled storage unit, and wherein at least a portion of the hopper is enclosed by the enclosure.