Rotary ice shaving machine
First Claim
1. In an ice shaving machine used by an operator for shaving a block of ice, the ice shaving machine having a base, a drive head assembly, a table portion, and a blade, the blade being mounted relative to the table portion and moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the blade having a sharp edge generally exposed relative to the table portion when the blade is in the extended position but generally protected relative to the table portion when the blade is in the retracted position, the block of ice being positioned in a region between the table portion and the drive head assembly when the block of ice is being shaved, the operator further having a hand with fingers, the improvement comprising:
- a shield disposed generally between the table portion and the drive head assembly and moveable between an open position and a closed position, the shield at least partially obstructing the fingers of the hand of the operator from entering the region between the table portion and the drive head assembly and contacting the sharp edge of the blade when the shield is in the closed position and the blade is in the extended position; and
an interlock mechanism operatively connected to the shield and to the blade, the interlock mechanism preventing the blade from being moved from the retracted position to the extended position unless the shield is in the closed position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vertically-oriented rotary ice shaving machine in which the drive head assembly (including the ice-engaging mechanism, upper drive linkage, and housing) descend toward the table from the raised position at substantially the same rate. The drive head assembly is supported on telescoping columns, and a telescoping drive shaft connects the motor to the upper drive linkage. Alternately, the motor may be mounted on a carriage which moves reciprocally with the drive head assembly. The drive head assembly may exert downward pressure on the ice block via tension exerted by the telescoping drive shaft and support columns, or due to the weight of the drive head components and motor. Mechanical and electrical interlocks prevent the blade from being raised to an exposed position, and similarly interrupt rotation of the ice block, until the protective doors are closed. The protective doors are secured in the closed position while the blade is extended. The blade is cammed from the exposed to a retracted position to protect the operator from injury when inserting a block of ice or removing a remnant. The extended blade height may be manually adjusted, independently of the camming mechanism. The blade is spaced radially from the axis of rotation of the ice block to maintain a stability during the shaving process. The angled face forming the sharp edge of the blade is further oriented away from the lower surface of the ice block so as to chisel the ice surface more effectively.
63 Citations
41 Claims
-
1. In an ice shaving machine used by an operator for shaving a block of ice, the ice shaving machine having a base, a drive head assembly, a table portion, and a blade, the blade being mounted relative to the table portion and moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the blade having a sharp edge generally exposed relative to the table portion when the blade is in the extended position but generally protected relative to the table portion when the blade is in the retracted position, the block of ice being positioned in a region between the table portion and the drive head assembly when the block of ice is being shaved, the operator further having a hand with fingers, the improvement comprising:
-
a shield disposed generally between the table portion and the drive head assembly and moveable between an open position and a closed position, the shield at least partially obstructing the fingers of the hand of the operator from entering the region between the table portion and the drive head assembly and contacting the sharp edge of the blade when the shield is in the closed position and the blade is in the extended position; and an interlock mechanism operatively connected to the shield and to the blade, the interlock mechanism preventing the blade from being moved from the retracted position to the extended position unless the shield is in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. In an ice shaving machine used by an operator for shaving a block of ice, the ice shaving machine having a base, a drive head assembly, a table portion, and a blade, the blade being mounted relative to the table portion and having a retracted position and an extended position, the blade further having a sharp edge generally exposed to the operator when in the extended position but generally protected from inadvertent contact with the operator when in the retracted position, the block of ice being positioned in a region between the table portion and the drive head assembly when the block of ice is being shaved, the operator having a hand with fingers, the improvement comprising:
-
a shield disposed generally between the table portion and the drive head assembly and moveable between an open position and a closed position, the shield at least partially obstructing the fingers of the hand of the operator from entering the region between the table portion and the drive head assembly and contacting the sharp edge of the blade when the shield is in the closed position and the blade is in the extended position; and an interlock mechanism operatively connected to the shield, the interlock mechanism preventing the sharp edge of the blade from being generally exposed in the extended position unless the shield is in the closed position.
-
-
7. In an ice shaving machine used by an operator for shaving a block of ice, the ice shaving machine having a base, a drive head assembly, a table portion, and a blade, the table portion including an ice contacting surface, the blade being mounted relative to the table portion and having a retracted position and an extended position, the blade further having a sharp edge and a predetermined height relative to the ice supporting surface of the table portion when in the extended position, the improvement comprising:
wherein the block of ice has a surface being shaved, and further wherein the blade has a top planar face, a bottom planar face, and an angled face extending between the top planar face and the bottom planar face, the top planar face and the angled face defining a sharp edge of the blade which shaves the block of ice, the angled face being oriented generally away from the surface of the block of ice being shaved.
-
8. In an ice shaving machine used by an operator for shaving a block of ice, the ice shaving machine having a drive head assembly including an ice-engaging mechanism which revolves the block of ice about an axis of rotation, a table portion, a blade, and a blade holder operatively connected to the table portion, the blade having a length oriented generally radial relative to the axis of rotation of the block of ice, the blade further having an inner end and an outer end, the improvement comprising:
the blade being mounted on the blade holder such that the inner end of the blade is disposed a predetermined distance radially outward from the axis of rotation of the block of ice. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
10. In an ice shaving machine used by an operator for shaving a block of ice, the ice shaving machine having a base, a drive head assembly, a table portion, and a blade, the table portion including an ice contacting surface, the blade being mounted relative to the table portion and having a retracted position and an extended position, the blade further having a sharp edge and a predetermined height relative to the ice supporting surface of the table portion when in the extended position, the improvement comprising:
-
a blade holder on which the blade is operatively mounted, the blade holder being connected to the table portion and moveable between the retracted position and the extended position of the blade, the blade holder being normally biased toward theretracted position of the blade; and an armature connected to the table portion and moveable between a first position and a second position, the armature contacting the blade holder and urging the blade holder and the blade to the extended position when the armature is in the second position, the armature permitting the blade holder and the blade to return to the retracted position when the armature is in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. In an ice shaving machine used by an operator for shaving a block of ice, the ice shaving machine having a base, a drive head assembly including an ice-engaging mechanism, a table portion, and a blade, the improvement comprising:
a plurality of pins mounted on and independently moveable relative to the ice-engaging mechanism, each of the plurality of pins being biased toward the table portion and the block of ice.
-
18. An ice shaving machine for use by an operator in shaving a block of ice with a blade, the ice shaving machine comprising:
-
a base; a table portion connected to the base for supporting the block of ice thereon; a drive head assembly mounted on the base so as to move reciprocally up and down relative to the table portion, the drive head assembly moving between a raised position and a lowered position as the block of ice is shaved, the drive head assembly including an ice-engaging mechanism mounted for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the table portion, the ice-engaging mechanism being disposed at least partially above the table portion and moveable between the raised position and the lowered position with the drive head assembly; a motor, the motor being operatively connected to the ice-engaging mechanism to rotate the ice-engaging mechanism and the block of ice; a drive chain operatively connecting the motor to the ice-engaging mechanism; and a housing at least partially enclosing the drive head assembly and the drive chain, the drive head assembly and the ice-engaging mechanism descending toward the table portion from the raised position to the lowered position as the block of ice is shaved, and such that the portions of the drive head assembly, the ice block retaining mechanism, the drive chain, and the housing which are disposed above the table portion descend toward the table portion as the block of ice is shaved. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. An ice shaving machine for use by an operator in shaving a block of ice with a blade, the ice shaving machine comprising:
-
a base; a table portion connected to the base for supporting the block of ice thereon; a drive head assembly mounted on the base so as to move reciprocally up and down relative to the table portion, the drive head assembly moving between a raised position and a lowered position as the block of ice is shaved, the drive head assembly including an ice-engaging mechanism mounted for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the table portion, the ice-engaging mechanism being disposed at least partially above the table portion and moveable between the raised position and the lowered position with the drive head assembly; a first motor to rotate the ice-engaging mechanism and the block of ice; a drive chain operatively connecting the motor to the ice-engaging mechanism, the drive head assembly and the ice-engaging mechanism descending toward the table portion from the raised position to the lowered position as the block of ice is shaved, and such that the portions of the drive head assembly, the ice block retaining mechanism, and the drive chain which are disposed above the table portion descend toward the table portion as the block of ice is shaved; a second motor for moving the drive head assembly between the lowered position and the raised position; and a lift chain operatively connecting the second motor to the drive head assembly. - View Dependent Claims (37)
-
-
38. A method for shaving a block of ice, the method being performed at least in part by an operator, the operator having a hand with fingers, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing an ice shaving machine, the ice shaving machine having a base, a motor, a drive head assembly including an ice-engaging mechanism, a table portion, a shield, a blade, and an interlock mechanism, the motor being operatively connected to the ice-engaging mechanism so as to rotate the ice-engaging mechanism and the block of ice, the blade being mounted relative to the table portion and moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the shield disposed generally adjacent a region between the table portion and the drive head assembly and moveable between an open position and a closed position, the shield at least partially obstructing the fingers of the hand of the operator from entering the region between the table portion and the drive head assembly when the shield is in the closed position, the interlock mechanism operatively connected to the shield and to the blade, the interlock mechanism preventing the blade from being moved from the retracted position to the extended position unless the shield is in the closed position; positioning the block of ice in a predetermined position on the table portion within the region between the table portion and the drive head assembly; moving the shield to the closed position; lowering the drive head assembly such that the ice-engaging mechanism contacts and engages the block of ice; actuating the motor so as to rotate the ice-engaging mechanism and the block of ice at a predetermined rotational speed; and moving the blade from the retracted position to the extended position such that the blade contacts the block of ice and produces shavings therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
-
Specification