METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING THE CLEANLINESS OF ICE MACHINES

• US 20120198870A1
• Filed: 02/09/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Flow Services AG (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Companies LLC (Manitowoc Foodservice Companies)
• Inventors: Erbs, Daryl G., Smith, William E. Jr., Olson, William E. Jr., Jaferian, Janice M.K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,803,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/12 by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/12 Means for sanitation

Abstract

The use of the following techniques to clean air: (1) inlet air filtration, (2) continuous recirculation air filtration, (3) water filtration and disinfection, (4) use of an air curtain in the ice bin opening, and (5) provision of clean air to the air assist pump during the harvest cycle.

Claims

1. An ice maker comprising:

an evaporator having an evaporator plate;

a distributor that distributes distributor water onto said evaporator plate to form ice;

a sump that receives said distributor water, said sump, said distributor and said evaporator plate being positioned in a food zone; and

a pump that directs sump water from said sump to said distributor,

wherein said food zone has air that is communicated to said food zone that is filtered by a filter selected from the group consisting of a water spray, an anti-microbial pesticide mechanism, a water reservoir, and any combination thereof.

2. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein said filter is said water spray.

3. The ice maker of claim 2, further comprising an air moving device that directs said air through a vessel where filter water has been filtered by a microbial control water filter and is sprayed or cascaded across a flow path of said air to form said water spray.

4. The ice maker of claim 3, wherein said air flows from said vessel to said food zone creating a net positive air flow into said ice maker.

5. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein said filter is said anti-microbial pesticide mechanism.

6. The ice maker of claim 5, wherein said anti-microbial pesticide mechanism filters using a mechanism selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet air stream, ozone, free radical generation, and any combination thereof.

7. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein said filter is said water reservoir.

8. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein said air is communicated to said filter prior to being communicated to said food zone.

9. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein said air in said food zone is communicated to said filter to be circulated through said filter and discharged from said filter to be returned into said food zone.

10. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising an air pump to pump said air into an interface of said ice and said evaporator plate which creates a pressure at the interface.

11. An ice maker comprising:

an evaporator having an evaporator plate;

a distributor that distributes distributor water onto said evaporator plate to form ice;

a sump that receives said distributor water, said sump, said distributor and said evaporator plate being positioned in a food zone;

a pump that directs sump water from said sump to said distributor; and

a sealing device that blocks ambient air from entering said food zone,

wherein said food zone has air that is metered into said food zone creating a positive air pressure in said food zone.

12. The ice maker of claim 11, wherein said air that is free of micro-organisms.

13. The ice maker of claim 11, wherein said air is in a pressurized cylinder and is metered into said ice machine by a mechanical pressure regulator.

14. The ice maker of claim 11, further comprising a measurement device that measures an air pressure in said food zone and a controller to energize or de-energize an air moving device to maintain an amount of pressure in said food zone.

15. The ice maker of claim 11, wherein said air is also communicated into an interface of said ice and said evaporator plate which creates a pressure at the interface.

16. An ice maker comprising:

an evaporator having an evaporator plate;

a distributor that distributes distributor water onto said evaporator plate to form ice;

a sump that receives said distributor water and source water from a water source, said sump, said distributor and said evaporator plate being positioned in a food zone; and

a pump that directs sump water from said sump to said distributor;

wherein said source water is treated by a micro-biological control prior to entering said food zone.

17. The ice maker of claim 16, wherein said micro-biological control is selected from the group consisting of membrane filtration, ultraviolet light, silver ions, anti-microbials, ozone, and any combination thereof.

18. An ice maker comprising:

an evaporator having an evaporator plate;

a distributor that distributes distributor water onto said evaporator plate to form ice;

a sump that receives said distributor water, said sump, said distributor and said evaporator plate being positioned in a food zone; and

a pump that directs sump water from said sump to said distributor; and

a bin that receives said ice formed on said evaporator plate and having an opening,

wherein said bin has an air flow formed across said opening.

19. The ice maker of claim 18, wherein said bin is an anti-microbial bin or has an anti-microbial bin liner.