Machine for producing ice

• US 7,980,090 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frimont SpA (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: Scotsman Group LLC (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Lanzani, Emanuele
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US12/223,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 623/20, 623/54, 623/40, 623/81
• US Class Current: 62/354
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/147 by using augers
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/142 extrusion of ice crystals
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/20 Distributing ice

Abstract

The machine for the production of ice, comprises a tubular pipe to form the ice, covered by a refrigerator group evaporator, and having an auger inside to move the ice towards the delivery outlet, associated with a ring nut having a plurality of drawing holes arranged angularly spaced along a circumference, the delivery outlet of the tubular pipe is associated with the terminal inlet of the conveyor of ice, having a substantially upward axial extension and a terminal outlet part positioned at a level substantially higher than the top of the machine.

Claims

1. A machine for the production of ice, comprising a tubular pipe to form the ice, covered by a refrigerator evaporator, and having an auger inside to move the ice towards the delivery outlet, associated with a ring nut having a plurality of drawing holes arranged angularly spaced along a circumference, wherein said delivery outlet of said tubular pipe above said drawing holes is associated with a terminal inlet part of a conveyor of said ice, having a substantially upward axial extension and a terminal outlet part positioned at a level substantially higher than said top of said machine, wherein said conveyor comprises a first and a second longitudinal element having at least one terminal section coaxial with said tubular pipe, and a crushing element for said ice is present at an outlet end of said first longitudinal element.

2. A machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said delivery outlet of said tubular pipe opens at the top of said machine.

3. A machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein at least said second longitudinal element is tubular.

4. A machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein at least said first longitudinal element is tubular.

5. A machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal element is inside said second longitudinal tubular element with which it delimits an annular interspace facing said drawing holes.

6. A machine for the production of ice according to claim 5, wherein the radial extension of said annular interspace is not less than the diameter of the outlet cross-section of said drawing holes.

7. A machine for the production of ice according to claim 5, wherein the radial extension of said annular interspace is substantially equal to the diameter of the outlet cross-section of said drawing holes.

8. A machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said drawing holes taper progressively from their inlet cross-section to their outlet cross-section.

9. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said auger has a double screw.

10. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said first and second longitudinal elements are rectilinear.

11. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said first and second longitudinal elements are vertical.

12. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said first and second longitudinal elements present at least one angle.

13. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 12, wherein said angle is a right angle.

14. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said first and second longitudinal elements have a vertical section and a horizontal section.

15. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 1, wherein said crushing element has a deflecting surface which is tilted with respect to the axis of said first longitudinal element.

16. A machine for the production of ice, comprising a tubular pipe to form the ice, covered by a refrigerator evaporator, and having an auger inside to move the ice towards the delivery outlet, associated with a ring nut having a plurality of drawing holes arranged angularly spaced along a circumference, wherein said delivery outlet of said tubular pipe is associated with the terminal inlet part of a conveyor of said ice, having a substantially upward axial extension and a terminal outlet part positioned at a level substantially higher than said top of said machine, wherein said conveyor comprises a first and a second longitudinal element having at least one terminal section coaxial with said tubular pipe, and first and second connectors, respectively, between said ring nut and said respective first and second longitudinal elements.

17. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 16, wherein said first connector comprise an annular recess of the external side surface of said first longitudinal element, on which an extension is fitted of a central sleeve of said ring nut.

18. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 17, wherein said external side surface of said extension is substantially on the external side surface of said first longitudinal element.

19. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 18, wherein said extension has an internal thread for its coupling with an external counter-thread of said first internal tubular element.

20. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 16, wherein said second connector comprise an annular shoulder of said ring nut on which a second tubular element is supported.

21. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 20, wherein a side surface of said shoulder is substantially on the extension of the internal side surface of said second tubular element.

22. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 20, wherein the outlet end of said second tubular element bears a dispenser of said crushed ice, having a tilted bottom with respect to the axis of said second longitudinal element for sliding said crushed ice towards the exterior.

23. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 22, wherein said dispenser has one or more supply channels which are angularly spaced around the outlet end of said second tubular element.

24. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 20, wherein said second tubular element has an external insulation coating.

25. The machine for the production of ice according to claim 20, wherein said second tubular element is made of a transparent material, and that said insulation coating has at least one inspection window to view the interior of said second tubular element.

26. A machine for the production of ice comprising a tubular pipe to form the ice, covered by a refrigerator evaporator, and having an auger inside to move the ice towards the delivery outlet, associated with a ring nut having a plurality of drawing holes arranged angularly spaced along a circumference, wherein said delivery outlet of said tubular pipe is associated with the terminal inlet part of a conveyor of said ice, having a substantially upward axial extension and a terminal outlet part positioned at a level substantially higher than said top of said machine, and wherein a junction area between said ring nut and said conveyor is externally encircled by a collector of condensation water or water melted from said ice, drained from at least one drainage hole present on said external pipe.