Method for automatically bagging ice using a timer and multipositional electronic scale

• US 5,581,982 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reddy Ice LLC
• Original Assignee: Packaged Ice, Inc. (Stone Canyon Industries Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Schroeder, Alfred A., Chadwell, Thomas J., McGuar, Perry
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paradiso, John
• Application Number:
  US08/541,627
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 53/459, 53/469, 53/473, 53/475, 53/479, 53/502, 53/73, 141/83, 141/314, 141/317, 222/73, 222/643, 414/21, 177/64, 177/116, 177/59
• US Class Current: 53/459
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/32 by weighing check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles B65B1/46
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/28 by weighing
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/465 for bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/067 in bags B65B5/061 - B65B5/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/146 Closing bags
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/00 Working or handling ice F25C3/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/18 Storing ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/20 Distributing ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/801 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/026 by mechanical conveying means, e.g. belt or vibratory conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/04 by weight
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Abstract

An ice bagger comprises an ice maker, an ice bagging unit which includes an automatic sanitation system, and a merchandiser. The ice maker delivers particulate ice into a hopper housed within the ice bagging unit. The ice bagging unit includes a bag carrier which retrieves a bag from a bag supply and opens the bag underneath a delivery chute communicating with the hopper via an auger. A scale supports the bag during its filling to measure the weight of the ice delivered into the bag from the hopper. When the scale registers the desired amount of ice, the auger ceases to deliver ice from the hopper into the delivery chute. The ice bagging unit further includes a sealer arm and heating element wherein, after the bag is filled, the sealer arm pivots to detach the bag from the bag carrier and force both sides of the open end of the bag against the heating element. The heating element then activates to seal the bag closed. Once the bag has been closed, the scale pivots to deliver the sealed bag of ice into the merchandiser while the sealer arm raises to its original position. The above cycle then repeats to fill another bag with ice. Additionally, the ice bagger further comprises a sanitizing system which periodically activates to sanitize the hopper.

Claims

1. A method for bagging ice comprising the steps of:

grasping a bag from a bag supply using a bag grasping means and opening said bag underneath an ice delivery means which communicates with an ice storage means;

activating said ice delivery means to deliver ice from said ice storage means into said bag until a sensing means provides a signal indicating ice resides within the bottom of said bag;

deactivating said ice delivery means in response to said signal to stop the delivery of ice into said bag;

raising a scale located underneath said bag from a fully lowered position to an intermediate position which supports said bag;

activating said ice delivery means to deliver ice into said bag for a predetermined period of time;

raising said scale to a fully raised position which further supports said bag;

activating said ice delivery means to deliver ice into said bag until said scale provides a signal indicating said bag is full;

deactivating said ice delivery means in response to said scale signal to stop the delivery of ice into said bag;

sealing said bag to prevent ice from escaping said bag;

releasing said bag from said bag grasping means; and

delivering said bag from said scale into an ice bag storage means.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of deactivating said ice delivery means and stopping ice bagging operations if, at the expiration of a predetermined period, said sensing means fails to provide said signal indicating ice resides within the bottom of said bag.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of delivering said bag from said scale into an ice bag storage means further comprises lowering said scale to its fully lowered position and alternately tilting said scale to the left and right to deliver bags of ice to opposite sides of said ice bag storage means.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

activating a means for making ice to deliver ice into said ice storage means in response to a signal indicating a low level of ice in said ice storage means; and

deactivating said means for making ice in response to a signal indicating a high level of ice in said ice storage means.