Ice bagging apparatus

• US 7,497,062 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• 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 C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Louis K
• Application Number:
  US11/931,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20080047233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 534/59, 534/69, 535/70, 53/58, 532/60, 532/842.47, 533/841, 533/851, 623/40, 623/44
• US Class Current: 53/58
• 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

An ice-bagging apparatus comprises an ice maker for making ice, a hopper for receiving the ice from the ice maker, a drawer system comprising a drawer and a top door operatively associated with the hopper for measuring the ice and delivering of the ice, a bag delivery mechanism including a bag supply mechanism for placing the ice in a bag, a blower engaged to open the mouth of the bag to receive the ice, a sealer for sealing the open mouth of the bag once the bag is filled with the ice, and a control device for managing and monitoring the drawer and bag delivery mechanism and allowing transmission of the collected data to the internet.

Claims

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 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.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 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.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 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.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 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.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

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

wherein the door is placed in its second position in response to the detection of the amount of ice by the sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

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.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a control unit operably coupled to the drawer and the door.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control unit is in communication with a remotely-located server.