Method and system for controlling a solid product release mechanism
First Claim
1. For use with a solid product release mechanism for releasing a plurality of solid products, a delivery chute having a passage for guiding the solid product from the solid product release mechanism to a storage bin, the storage bin for receiving and storing the solid product and having a cavity, a method for controlling the solid product release mechanism to control the level of solid products in the storage bin, the method comprising:
- transmitting an acoustical wave across the passage of the delivery chute, the acoustical wave having a predetermined frequency based on a resonance of the delivery chute;
sensing a strength of the transmitted acoustical wave after the acoustical wave has traversed across the passage;
releasing the solid products into the passage of the delivery chute so as to change the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave;
sensing the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; and
generating a control signal when the change in the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time wherein the control signal is utilized to prevent the solid product release mechanism from releasing additional solid product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for controlling a solid product release mechanism to control the level of solid products in a storage bin. An acoustical wave is transmitted across either a passage of a delivery chute or a cavity of the storage bin. The strength of the transmitted acoustical wave is sensed. As the solid products fall from the release mechanism into the delivery chute or storage bin, a change in the strength of the acoustical wave signal is sensed. A control signal is generated to control the release mechanism when the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time. A method and system is also provided for controlling an ice release mechanism in an automatic ice-making machine. A method and system is provided for automatically calibrating an ultrasonic ranging sensor used in determining the level of solid products in a storage bin. An apparatus is also provided for controlling a solid product release mechanism to control the level of solid products in a storage bin.
84 Citations
51 Claims
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1. For use with a solid product release mechanism for releasing a plurality of solid products, a delivery chute having a passage for guiding the solid product from the solid product release mechanism to a storage bin, the storage bin for receiving and storing the solid product and having a cavity, a method for controlling the solid product release mechanism to control the level of solid products in the storage bin, the method comprising:
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transmitting an acoustical wave across the passage of the delivery chute, the acoustical wave having a predetermined frequency based on a resonance of the delivery chute; sensing a strength of the transmitted acoustical wave after the acoustical wave has traversed across the passage; releasing the solid products into the passage of the delivery chute so as to change the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; sensing the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; and generating a control signal when the change in the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time wherein the control signal is utilized to prevent the solid product release mechanism from releasing additional solid product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. For use with a solid product release mechanism for releasing a plurality of solid products, a delivery chute having a passage for guiding the solid product from the solid product release mechanism to a storage bin, the storage bin for receiving and storing the solid product and having a cavity, a method for controlling the solid product release mechanism to control the level of solid products in the storage, the method comprising:
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transmitting an acoustical wave across the cavity of the storage bin, the acoustical wave having a predetermined frequency based on a resonance of the storage bin; sensing a strength of the transmitted acoustical wave after the acoustical wave has traversed across the cavity; releasing the solid products into the cavity of the storage bin so as to change the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; sensing the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; and generating a control signal when the change in the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time wherein the control signal is utilized to prevent the solid product release mechanism from releasing additional solid product. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. For use with an automatic ice-making machine having an ice release mechanism for releasing ice, a delivery chute having a passage for guiding the ice from the ice release mechanism to a storage bin, the storage bin for receiving and storing the ice and having a cavity, a method for controlling the ice release mechanism to control the level of ice in the storage bin, the method comprising:
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(a) transmitting an acoustical wave across one of the passage of the delivery chute and the cavity of the storage bin, the acoustical wave having a predetermined frequency based on a resonance of one of the delivery chute and the storage bin; (b) sensing a strength of the transmitted acoustical wave after the acoustical wave has traversed across the one of the passage and the cavity; (c) releasing the ice into the one of the passage and the cavity so as to change the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; (d) sensing the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; and (e) generating a control signal when the change in the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time wherein the control signal is utilized to prevent the ice release mechanism from releasing additional ice. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. For use with a solid product release mechanism that releases solid products through a delivery chute having a passage for guiding the solid products from the release mechanism to a storage bin, the storage bin for receiving and storing the solid products and having a cavity, a system for controlling the solid product release mechanism to control the level of solid products in the storage bin, the system comprising:
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means for transmitting an acoustical wave across the passage of the delivery chute, the acoustical wave having a predetermined frequency based on a resonance of the delivery chute; a sensor for sensing a strength of the transmitted acoustical wave after the acoustical wave has traversed across the passage; means for releasing the solid products into the passage of the delivery chute so as to change the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; the sensor for sensing the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; and means for generating a control signal when the change in the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time wherein the control signal is utilized to prevent the solid product release mechanism from releasing additional solid product. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. For use with a solid product release mechanism that releases solid products through a delivery chute having a passage for guiding the solid products from the release mechanism to a storage bin, the storage bin for receiving and storing the solid products and having a cavity, a system for controlling the solid product release mechanism to control the level of solid products in the storage bin, the system comprising:
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means for transmitting an acoustical wave across the cavity of the storage bin, the acoustical wave having a predetermined frequency based on a resonance of the storage bin; a sensor for sensing a strength of the transmitted acoustical wave after the acoustical wave has traversed across the cavity; means for releasing the solid products into the cavity of the storage bin so as to change the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; the sensor for sensing the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; and means for generating a control signal when the change in the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time wherein the control signal is utilized to prevent the solid product release mechanism from releasing additional solid product. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. For use with an automatic ice-making machine having an ice release mechanism that releases ice through a delivery chute having a passage for guiding the ice from the ice release mechanism to a storage bin, the storage bin for receiving and storing the ice and having a cavity, a system for controlling the ice release mechanism to control the level of ice in the storage bin, the system comprising:
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means for transmitting an acoustical wave across one of the passage of the delivery chute and the cavity of the storage bin, the acoustical wave having a predetermined frequency based on a resonance of one of the delivery chute and the storage bin; a sensor for sensing a strength of the transmitted acoustical wave after the acoustical wave has traversed across the one of the passage and the cavity; means for releasing the ice into the one of the passage and the cavity so as to change the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; the sensor for sensing the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; and means for generating a control signal when the change in the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time wherein the control signal is utilized to prevent the ice release mechanism from releasing additional ice. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. For use with an ice release mechanism that releases ice through a delivery chute having a passage for guiding the ice from the ice release mechanism to a storage bin, the storage bin for receiving and storing the ice and having a cavity, an apparatus for controlling the ice release mechanism to control the level of ice in the storage bin, the apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting an acoustical wave across one of the passage and the cavity, the acoustical wave having a predetermined frequency based on the resonance of one of the delivery chute or the storage bin; a sensor for sensing a strength of the transmitted acoustical wave after the acoustical wave has traversed the one of the passage and the cavity; a controller, coupled to the release mechanism, the transmitter and the sensor, for allowing at least one solid product to fall from the release mechanism into one of the passage and the cavity so as to change the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; the sensor for sensing the change in the strength of the transmitted acoustical wave; and the controller for generating a control signal when the change in the strength exceeds a predetermined threshold for more than a predetermined amount of time wherein the control signal is utilized to prevent the solid product release mechanism from releasing additional ice. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification