Automated ice delivery apparatus and methods

• US 20070267086A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danny Dunn
• Original Assignee: Ice House America LLC (Ice House)
• Inventors: Dunn, Danny
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/2
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/00 Working or handling ice F25C3/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/20 Distributing ice
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/58 the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/04 by weight

Abstract

An ice vending apparatus that includes a holding vessel, an ice metering device, an ice transferring device, and a device for facilitating the movement of ice through the aperture, such as an ice circulation device or moisture inhibiting device, are provided. The ice circulation device inhibits or prevents the freezing together and buildup of ice pieces within the apparatus, while the moisture inhibiting device inhibits or prevents the undesirable transfer of moisture to different parts of the apparatus. Methods of delivering ice to a consumer are also included.

Claims

1. An ice vending apparatus comprising:

a holding vessel having an aperture, a length, a width, and being configured and dimensioned to receive and house ice pieces produced by an operatively associated ice supply;

an ice metering device;

an ice transferring device at least partially disposed within the holding vessel that facilitates movement of ice pieces located therein toward the aperture thereof and to the ice metering device, which is adapted and configured to meter a quantity of ice pieces into a readily transportable container; and

an ice circulation device adapted and configured to selectively inhibit or prevent the permanent freezing together of the ice pieces, the buildup of ice adjacent an inner surface of the holding vessel, the accumulation of ice pieces that are partially melted, or a combination thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ice circulation device comprises an ice leveler configured and adapted to distribute ice pieces in a direction toward the aperture.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ice leveler comprises a linearly reciprocating rod oriented substantially transversely to the length of the holding vessel and that is positioned about 0.5 to 12 inches below a top of the holding vessel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ice leveler further comprises a chain operatively associated with the linearly reciprocating rod that advances the rod substantially along the length of the holding vessel from a first position to a second position that is closer to the aperture so as to move the ice pieces toward the aperture, and that returns the rod from the second position to the first position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding vessel is operatively associated with a catch vessel positioned to receive ice pieces emitted from the aperture, and wherein the ice circulation device is disposed at least partially in the catch vessel and is configured and adapted to facilitate the movement of ice pieces across the width of the catch vessel toward the portion of the ice transferring device that transfers ice pieces to the ice metering device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the ice circulation device comprises a substantially horizontally disposed auger.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the ice circulation device is operatively associated with the ice transferring device to facilitate transfer of the ice pieces through the catch vessel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ice circulation device comprises an ice stop device that includes a reversibly slidable rod that closes a circuit in a first position when more ice pieces need to moved towards the ice transfer device in the holding vessel and that opens the circuit in a second position to stop movement of ice pieces towards the ice transfer device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ice stop device further comprises one or more arms that move ice pieces towards the ice transfer device in the holding vessel when the circuit is closed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ice circulation device comprises a heating element operatively associated with the ice supply to melt any ice or frost buildup that is inhibiting formation of ice pieces or constricting movement of freshly formed ice pieces into the holding vessel.

16. The apparatus of claim 1S, wherein the heat source comprises at least one incandescent light bulb.

11. An ice vending apparatus comprising:

a holding vessel having an aperture and being configured and dimensioned to receive and house ice pieces produced by an operatively associated ice supply;

an ice metering device;

an ice transferring device at least partially disposed within the holding vessel that facilitates movement of ice pieces located therein toward the aperture thereof and to the ice metering device, which is adapted and configured to meter a quantity of ice pieces into a readily transportable container; and

a moisture inhibiting device that inhibits or prevents the undesirable migration of moisture from partially melted ice pieces to another part of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the moisture inhibiting device comprises a shield positioned to create a barrier between the ice pieces and a plurality of readily transportable containers that minimizes or prevents migration of moisture from the ice pieces onto the containers.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the shield is positioned beneath the ice metering device to inhibit or prevent moisture migration onto or into the readily transportable containers.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the shield is substantially transparent, plastic, or both.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the moisture inhibiting device comprises a heat source that is operatively associated with a currency receiving apparatus and that is used to retain currency supplied by a consumer in a dry state.

17. A method of delivering ice pieces to a consumer which comprises:

providing a holding zone capable of housing a quantity of ice pieces received from an operatively associated ice supply;

providing a container filling zone that receives ice pieces from the holding zone and deposits a pre-selected amount of ice pieces in a container;

moving ice pieces housed within the holding zone toward and through an aperture thereof to the container filling zone; and

inhibiting or preventing the buildup of ice formations in the holding zone and container filling zone so as to facilitate transfer of ice pieces from the holding zone to and through the aperture thereof and to and through the container filling zone.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the inhibiting or preventing comprises either temporarily destabilizing the ice pieces in the holding zone to facilitate movement of the ice pieces in a direction having a downwards component and a horizontal component towards the aperture, or agitating to facilitate movement of the ice pieces transversely to the aperture before transfer to the container filling zone.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the inhibiting or preventing comprises reversibly closing a circuit that controls an operatively associated ice sweep in the holding zone that moves ice pieces in a direction having a downwards component and a horizontal component towards the aperture.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein inhibiting or preventing comprises heating a frozen accumulation of ice to facilitate an unblocked flow of ice pieces.

21. A method of delivering ice pieces to a consumer which comprises:

providing a holding zone capable of housing a quantity of ice pieces received from an operatively associated ice supply;

providing a container filling zone that receives ice pieces from the holding zone and deposits a pre-selected amount of ice pieces in a container;

moving ice pieces housed within the holding zone toward and through an aperture thereof to the container filling zone; and

inhibiting or preventing the undesirable migration of moisture from the container filling zone.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the inhibiting or preventing comprises providing heat to a plurality of paper currency associated with the delivering of ice pieces to the consumer so as to keep the paper currency dry, to drive off moisture from the paper currency, or both, and to minimize or avoid sticking together of the paper currency.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the inhibiting or preventing comprises physically shielding a portion of readily transportable containers stored below the container filling zone.