ICE BAGGING APPARATUS

• US 20080047233A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reddy Ice LLC
• Original Assignee: Reddy Ice Corporation (Stone Canyon Industries Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Metzger, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/469
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/36 by volumetric devices or methods checking volume of filled material B65B1/48
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/123 Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/54 Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/14 and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged

Abstract

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an ice-bagging apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus comprises an ice maker for making ice and hopper for receiving the ice from the ice maker. The apparatus further includes a drawer system, operatively associated with the hopper, for measuring the ice and delivering of the ice. The drawer system includes top door and drawer. A bag delivery mechanism for placing the ice in a bag is also included, with the bag delivery mechanism including a bag supply mechanism, a blower engaged to open the mouth of the bag to receive the product, and a sealer that seals the open mouth of the bag once the bag is filled with the ice. A control device is included that manages and monitors the drawer and bag delivery mechanism and allows transmission of the collected data to the Internet.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. An apparatus comprising:

a hopper in which ice is adapted to be disposed;

a drawer movable relative to the hopper, the drawer comprising;

a first position; and

a second position in which the ice is prevented from entering the drawer from the hopper; and

a door movable relative to each of the hopper and the drawer, the door comprising;

a first position in which the ice is permitted to enter the drawer from the hopper when the drawer is in its first position; and

a second position in which the ice is prevented from entering the drawer from the hopper when the drawer is in its first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein, when the drawer is in its first position and the door is in its second position, the door is disposed between at least a portion of the drawer and at least a portion of the hopper;

and

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

an ice maker from which the hopper is adapted to receive the ice;

a bagging mechanism comprising a bag into which the drawer is adapted to deliver the ice; and

a freezer adapted to store the bag after the ice has been delivered into the bag by the drawer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising at least one of the following:

a first actuator operably coupled to the drawer and adapted to move the drawer relative to each of the hopper and the door; and

a second actuator operably coupled to the door and adapted to move the door relative to each of the hopper and the drawer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising the first and second actuators;

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

a sensor coupled to the hopper and adapted to detect an amount of ice in the hopper;

a control unit operably coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator and the sensor;

wherein the sensor sends a first signal to the control unit in response to the detection of the amount of ice in the hopper;

wherein the control unit sends a second signal to the second actuator in response to the receipt of the first signal by the control unit; and

wherein the second actuator places the door in its second position in response to the receipt of the second signal by the second actuator.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a hopper in which ice is adapted to be disposed;

a drawer movable relative to the hopper, the drawer comprising;

a first position; and

a second position in which the ice is prevented from entering the drawer from the hopper;

a door movable relative to each of the hopper and the drawer, the door comprising;

a first position in which the ice is permitted to enter the drawer from the hopper when the drawer is in its first position; and

a second position in which the ice is prevented from entering the drawer from the hopper when the drawer is in its first position;

a first actuator operably coupled to the drawer and adapted to move the drawer relative to each of the hopper and the door;

a second actuator operably coupled to the door and adapted to move the door relative to each of the hopper and the drawer;

a sensor coupled to the hopper and adapted to detect an amount of ice in the hopper;

a control unit operably coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator and the sensor;

an ice maker from which the hopper is adapted to receive the ice;

a bagging mechanism comprising a bag into which the drawer is adapted to deliver the ice; and

a freezer adapted to store the bag after the ice has been delivered into the bag by the drawer;

wherein, when the drawer is in its first position and the door is in its second position, the door is disposed between at least a portion of the drawer and at least a portion of the hopper;

wherein the sensor sends a first signal to the control unit in response to the detection of the amount of ice in the hopper;

wherein the control unit sends a second signal to the second actuator in response to the receipt of the first signal by the control unit; and

wherein the second actuator places the door in its second position in response to the receipt of the second signal by the second actuator.

11. A method comprising:

providing a hopper in which ice is disposed;

placing a drawer in a first position relative to the hopper, the drawer defining a region defining a volume;

disposing a first volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper, the first volume of ice being generally equal to the volume defined by the region;

after disposing the first volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper, moving a door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a first configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally prevented; and

after moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration, disposing the first volume of ice in a bag, comprising;

placing the drawer in a second position relative to the hopper; and

permitting the first volume of ice to fall into the bag in response to placing the drawer in the second position relative to the hopper.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag;

after placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper, moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a second configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally permitted; and

disposing a second volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper in response to moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the second configuration, the second volume of ice being generally equal to the first volume of ice.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sensing the presence of a second volume of ice in the hopper, the second volume of ice being generally equal to or greater than the first volume of ice;

wherein moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration comprises;

moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration in response to sensing the presence of the second volume of ice in the hopper.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining the size of the bag;

in response to determining the size of the bag, determining how many times (n) the drawer must be moved from the first position to the second position in order to fill the bag with ice; and

filling the bag with ice, comprising;

disposing the first volume of ice in the bag; and

moving the drawer from the first position to the second position an additional (n−

1) times after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein, when the drawer is in the first position and the door is in the first configuration, the door is disposed between at least a portion of the drawer and at least a portion of the hopper;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

making the ice;

filling the bag with ice, comprising disposing the first volume of ice in the bag; and

storing the bag filled with ice in a freezer.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising at least one of the following:

remotely monitoring one or more of making the ice, filling the bag with ice, and storing the bag filled with ice in the freezer; and

remotely controlling one or more of making the ice, filling the bag with ice, and storing the bag filled with ice in the freezer.

17. A system comprising:

means for providing a hopper in which ice is disposed;

means for placing a drawer in a first position relative to the hopper, the drawer defining a region defining a volume;

means for disposing a first volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper, the first volume of ice being generally equal to the volume defined by the region;

means for after disposing the first volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper, moving a door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a first configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally prevented; and

means for after moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration, disposing the first volume of ice in a bag, comprising;

means for placing the drawer in a second position relative to the hopper; and

means for permitting the first volume of ice to fall into the bag in response to placing the drawer in the second position relative to the hopper.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag;

means for after placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper, moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a second configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally permitted; and

means for disposing a second volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper in response to moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the second configuration, the second volume of ice being generally equal to the first volume of ice.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for sensing the presence of a second volume of ice in the hopper, the second volume of ice being generally equal to or greater than the first volume of ice;

wherein the means for moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration comprises;

means for moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration in response to sensing the presence of the second volume of ice in the hopper.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for determining the size of the bag;

means for in response to determining the size of the bag, determining how many times (n) the drawer must be moved from the first position to the second position in order to fill the bag with ice; and

means for filling the bag with ice, comprising;

means for disposing the first volume of ice in the bag; and

means for moving the drawer from the first position to the second position an additional (n−

1) times after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein, when the drawer is in the first position and the door is in the first configuration, the door is disposed between at least a portion of the drawer and at least a portion of the hopper;

and

wherein the system further comprises;

means for making the ice;

means for filling the bag with ice, comprising the means for disposing the first volume of ice in the bag; and

means for storing the bag filled with ice in a freezer.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising at least one of the following:

means for remotely monitoring one or more of making the ice, filling the bag with ice, and storing the bag filled with ice in the freezer; and

means for remotely controlling one or more of making the ice, filling the bag with ice, and storing the bag filled with ice in the freezer.

23. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for making the ice;

means for placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag;

means for after placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper, moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a second configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally permitted;

means for disposing a second volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper in response to moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the second configuration, the second volume of ice being generally equal to the first volume of ice;

means for filling the bag with ice, comprising the means for disposing the first volume of ice in the bag;

means for sealing the bag after filling the bag with ice; and

means for storing the bag filled with ice in a freezer;

wherein, when the drawer is in the first position and the door is in the first configuration, the door is disposed between at least a portion of the drawer and at least a portion of the hopper;

wherein the bag comprises a mouth; and

wherein the means for after moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration, disposing the first volume of ice in the bag comprises;

means for opening the mouth of the bag.

24. A computer comprising a plurality of instructions stored therein, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions for placing a drawer in a first position relative to a hopper in which ice is disposed, the drawer defining a region defining a volume;

instructions for disposing a first volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper, the first volume of ice being generally equal to the volume defined by the region;

instructions for after disposing the first volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper, moving a door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a first configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally prevented; and

instructions for after moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration, disposing the first volume of ice in a bag, comprising;

instructions for placing the drawer in a second position relative to the hopper; and

instructions for permitting the first volume of ice to fall into the bag in response to placing the drawer in the second position relative to the hopper.

25. The computer of claim 24 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions for placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag;

instructions for after placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper, moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a second configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally permitted; and

instructions for disposing a second volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper in response to moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the second configuration, the second volume of ice being generally equal to the first volume of ice.

26. The computer of claim 24 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions for sensing the presence of a second volume of ice in the hopper, the second volume of ice being generally equal to or greater than the first volume of ice;

wherein the instructions for moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration comprises;

instructions for moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration in response to sensing the presence of the second volume of ice in the hopper.

27. The computer of claim 24 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions for determining the size of the bag;

instructions for in response to determining the size of the bag, determining how many times (n) the drawer must be moved from the first position to the second position in order to fill the bag with ice; and

instructions for filling the bag with ice, comprising;

instructions for disposing the first volume of ice in the bag; and

instructions for moving the drawer from the first position to the second position an additional (n−

1) times after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag.

28. The computer of claim 24 wherein, when the drawer is in the first position and the door is in the first configuration, the door is disposed between at least a portion of the drawer and at least a portion of the hopper;

and

wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises;

instructions for making the ice;

instructions for filling the bag with ice, comprising the instructions for disposing the first volume of ice in the bag; and

instructions for storing the bag filled with ice in a freezer.

29. The computer of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises at least one of the following:

instructions for remotely monitoring one or more of making the ice, filling the bag with ice, and storing the bag filled with ice in the freezer; and

instructions for remotely controlling one or more of making the ice, filling the bag with ice, and storing the bag filled with ice in the freezer.

30. The computer of claim 24 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions for making the ice;

instructions for placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag;

instructions for after placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper, moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a second configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally permitted;

instructions for disposing a second volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper in response to moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the second configuration, the second volume of ice being generally equal to the first volume of ice;

instructions for filling the bag with ice, comprising the instructions for disposing the first volume of ice in the bag;

instructions for sealing the bag after filling the bag with ice; and

instructions for storing the bag filled with ice in a freezer;

wherein, when the drawer is in the first position and the door is in the first configuration, the door is disposed between at least a portion of the drawer and at least a portion of the hopper;

wherein the bag comprises a mouth; and

wherein the instructions for after moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration, disposing the first volume of ice in the bag comprises;

instructions for opening the mouth of the bag.