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WO2021243864A1 - Ice dispensing system - Google Patents

Ice dispensing system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021243864A1
WO2021243864A1 PCT/CN2020/112981 CN2020112981W WO2021243864A1 WO 2021243864 A1 WO2021243864 A1 WO 2021243864A1 CN 2020112981 W CN2020112981 W CN 2020112981W WO 2021243864 A1 WO2021243864 A1 WO 2021243864A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ice
container
dispensing channel
transferring
belt
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2020/112981
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Chun Kit Lai
Original Assignee
Chun Kit Lai
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Chun Kit Lai filed Critical Chun Kit Lai
Priority to GB2201311.4A priority Critical patent/GB2600851B/en
Publication of WO2021243864A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021243864A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/20—Distributing ice

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to an automated food and beverage production device.
  • the present invention relates to an ice dispensing system in the food and beverage industry.
  • US 2,526,262 discloses an automatic ice-cube producing and storing machine.
  • This machine only focuses on producing and storing ice. Furthermore, this machine removes or delivers the ice to another place by free falling only. The movement of ice is then limited to downward movement during operation. If the ice is moved to another location from the storage location, manpower is required. It is desirable to have a system that can be used in a restaurant or in the food and beverage production industry, and that operates completely autonomously for transferring ice from one location to another.
  • US 6,135,173 discloses an ice dispenser for a refrigerator.
  • US 5,526,854 discloses a through-the-door water and ice dispenser.
  • Each of the two aforementioned dispensers uses a helix-shaped screw that can be rotated to push the ice into a dispensing hole.
  • the limitation of the two dispensers is that the quantity of ice dispensed is not consistent every time. The dispensing time of any given quantity differs and depends on the amount of ice remaining in the container. If the container is full, it would take one to two revolutions of the screw to obtain the ice.
  • a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a first ice dispensing system for delivering a selected quantity of ice to a user.
  • the system comprises one or more ice producing machines and an ice transferring subsystem.
  • the ice transferring subsystem comprises an ice container and an ice dispensing channel.
  • the ice transferring subsystem is configured to: vertically move the ice container to reach a selected ice producing machine selected from the one or more ice producing machines for subsequently receiving ice from the selected ice producing machine and depositing the received ice into the ice container; vertically move the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel; unload the ice from the ice container to the ice dispensing channel for delivering the ice to the user; and in vertically moving the ice container to reach the selected ice producing machine, adjust a vertical position of the ice container so as to adjust an inner depth of the ice container allowable for storing the ice, wherein the inner depth is determined such that a predicted load of ice carried by the ice container under the determined inner depth is the selected quantity of ice.
  • the ice transferring subsystem is further configured as follows. In vertically moving the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel, the loaded ice container is elevated from the selected ice producing machine to the ice dispensing channel when the selected ice producing machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel. Thereby, it allows the user to conveniently procure the ice from the ice dispensing channel without a need to install the selected ice producing machine at a higher position than the ice dispensing channel in utilizing gravity for ice delivery. To utilize this advantage, at least one of the one or more ice producing machines is lower than the ice dispensing channel in position. Optionally, all of the one or more ice producing machines are lower than the ice dispensing channel in position.
  • the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a belt and a motor.
  • the belt is used for vertically moving the ice container.
  • the ice container is connected to the belt.
  • the motor is used for driving the belt.
  • the ice transferring subsystem may further comprise a first wheel and a second wheel.
  • the second wheel is positioned higher than the first wheel.
  • the belt is engaged with the first and second wheels and is rotatable synchronously with rotation of each of the first and second wheels.
  • the first wheel is coupled to the motor such that the motor is arranged to indirectly drive the belt.
  • each of the first and second wheels is a gear
  • the belt is a geared belt.
  • the ice container may be a bowl. It is also possible that the ice container may be rectangular in shape.
  • the ice transferring subsystem further comprises one or more light detecting modules each for detecting whether a bulk of accumulated ice in the ice container has a height reaching the determined inner depth.
  • An individual light detecting module comprises a light source and a photodetector.
  • the light source may be a light emitting diode (LED) , a laser diode, etc.
  • the system further comprises one or more ice transferring slides configured such that ice generated by the selected ice producing machine slides along a respective ice transferring slide to drop into the ice container.
  • the one or more ice transferring slides may include a multi-input single-output slide for collecting ice individually from plural ice producing machines and dropping the collected ice into the ice container.
  • the respective transferring slide may comprise an outlet and a plurality of bendable fingers.
  • the outlet is used for outputting the ice received from the selected ice producing machine to the ice container.
  • the plurality of bendable fingers is located at the outlet for decelerating the ice before dropping into the ice container.
  • the plurality of bendable fingers may be made of rubber or silicone rubber.
  • the ice transferring subsystem further comprises an extended arm rigidly attached to the belt and pivotally connected to the ice container such that the ice container is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt.
  • the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a platform and an extended arm.
  • the ice container is fixed on the platform.
  • the extended arm is rigidly attached to the belt and pivotally connected to the platform such that the ice container is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt.
  • the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a hinge, an extended arm and a knob.
  • the ice container is divided into an upper part and a lower part.
  • the upper part is attached to the belt through the hinge such that the upper part is rotatable about the hinge.
  • the lower part is rigidly attached to the belt such that the lower part is not rotatable.
  • the upper part is hollow for storing ice, and has an opening on a bottom side of the upper part to thereby allow the ice to be unloaded through the opening.
  • the lower part used for blocking the opening when the upper and lower parts are aligned.
  • the knob is located around an inlet of the ice dispending channel.
  • the knob, the extended arm and the ice container are arranged such that when the extended arm and the ice container are upwardly moved by the belt and when the extended arm is blocked by the knob, the upper part is rotated about the hinge to reveal the opening, causing the ice loaded in the upper part to be unloaded into the inlet of the ice dispensing channel through the opening.
  • the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a strip and a switch.
  • the strip is mounted on the ice container.
  • the switch is configured to be triggered by the strip.
  • the switch is installed at a location defining a reference start-up level for the ice container, whereby the ice container is determined to be located at the reference start-up level when the strip triggers the switch.
  • the switch may be a mechanical switch or a photoelectric switch. In case the switch is a photoelectric switch, the strip is selected to be opaque.
  • the strip may be made of plastic.
  • the ice transferring subsystem further comprises one or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources arranged to irradiate the ice container for discouraging pathogen incubation inside the ice container.
  • UV ultraviolet
  • the system further comprises one or more computing processors for controlling the one or more ice producing machines and the ice transferring subsystem.
  • the one or more computing processors may be housed in a control and power module, which is used for controlling the system and supplying electrical power thereto.
  • the system further comprises a shaved ice machine for shaving ice into crushed form.
  • the shaved ice machine has an ice-receiving slide for receiving ice, and an ice-discharging slide for outputting ice in crushed form.
  • the ice transferring subsystem is further configured to: after the ice received from the selected ice producing machine is deposited into the ice container, vertically move the ice container to reach the ice-receiving slide and unload the ice from the ice container to the shaved ice machine via the ice-receiving slide; and vertically move the ice container from the ice-receiving slide to reach the ice-discharging slide for allowing the ice in crushed form to be deposited from the shaved ice machine into the ice container before the ice container is vertically moved to reach the ice dispensing channel.
  • the ice transferring subsystem is formed with a plurality of individual ice dispensing channels for delivering the ice to different locations.
  • the ice dispensing channel is user-selectable and is selected from the plurality of individual ice dispensing channels.
  • a second aspect of the present invention is to provide a second ice dispensing system for delivering a selected quantity of ice to a user.
  • the system comprises one or more ice producing machines and an ice transferring subsystem.
  • the ice transferring subsystem comprises an ice container and an ice dispensing channel.
  • the ice transferring subsystem is configured to: vertically move the ice container to reach a selected ice producing machine selected from the one or more ice producing machines for subsequently receiving ice from the selected ice producing machine and depositing the received ice into the ice container; vertically move the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel; unload the ice from the ice container to the ice dispensing channel for delivering the ice to the user; and in vertically moving the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel, elevate the loaded ice container from the selected ice producing machine to the ice dispensing channel when the selected ice producing machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel, thereby allowing the user to conveniently procure the ice from the ice dispensing channel without a need to install the selected ice producing
  • FIG. 1A depicts a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view of an ice dispensing system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1B depicts a side view of the ice dispensing system.
  • FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the ice dispensing system, revealing structural details thereof.
  • FIG. 3A depicts a cross-sectional view of an ice container and vicinity thereof in the disclosed system, where the ice container is positioned at a first vertical position such that ice is allowed to be deposited into the ice container until a high ice level in the ice container is reached.
  • FIG. 3B depicts a cross-sectional view of the ice container and vicinity thereof, where the ice container is positioned at a second vertical position such that ice is allowed to be deposited into the ice container until a medium ice level in the ice container is reached.
  • FIG. 3C depicts a cross-sectional view of the ice container and vicinity thereof, where the ice container is positioned at a third vertical position such that ice is allowed to be deposited into the ice container until a low ice level in the ice container is reached.
  • FIG. 4 depicts a top view of the ice container approaching an ice transferring slide, where the ice transferring slide includes a plurality of bendable fingers for decelerating ice in motion when the ice falls into the ice container.
  • FIG. 5 depicts a sequence of actions taken by a first configuration of the ice container in unloading the ice therein to a cup.
  • FIG. 6 depicts a sequence of actions taken by a second configuration of the ice container in unloading the ice therein to the cup.
  • FIG. 7 depicts a sequence of actions taken by a third configuration of the ice container in unloading the ice therein to the cup.
  • FIG. 8 exemplarily depicts a process performed by an ice transferring subsystem of the disclosed system for receiving ice from one or more ice producing machines and delivering the received ice to the user.
  • FIG. 9 exemplarily depicts a process performed by the ice transferring subsystem for receiving ice from the one or more ice producing machines and delivering the ice in crushed form to the user.
  • an ice dispensing system for delivering a selected quantity of ice to a user.
  • the selected quantity may be selected from a plurality of choices, or may be a preselected amount, weight or volume of ice.
  • the selected quantity may be user-selectable or may be determined without the user’s involvement.
  • the disclosed system is fully automatic and dispenses the quantity of ice as selected.
  • the disclosed system allows a user to conveniently procure the ice without a need to put an ice producing machine at a considerably high position for utilizing gravity in ice delivery.
  • the location factor of where to put the ice producing machine can be considered independently from where to retrieve the ice.
  • it allows more freedom in placing the system such that the ice is delivered to the user without a hassle of requiring the user to, e.g., bend his or her waist in procuring the ice.
  • FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary ice dispensing system 100 and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof.
  • FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the system 100, revealing structural details thereof.
  • a reference vertical direction 900 is defined as an upward pointing direction according to the gravitational force.
  • positional and directional words such as “above, ” “below, ” “higher, ” “upper, ” “lower, ” “top, ” “bottom” and “horizontal” are interpreted with reference to the reference vertical direction 900.
  • the system 100 comprises one or more ice producing machines 120 and an ice transferring subsystem 140.
  • the one or more ice producing machines 120 are used for producing ice, and may be individually or collectively used for ice generation.
  • FIG. 1A depicts four ice producing machines 121-124 in total, where the two ice producing machines 121, 122 are positioned at an upper horizontal level while the other two ice producing machines 123, 124 are located at a lower horizontal level.
  • the disclosed system is not limited only to using four such machines and arranging the machines pair-wisely; the disclosed system may use any practical number of ice producing machines and any location scheme of arranging the machines.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 comprises an ice container 142 and an ice dispensing channel 180.
  • the ice container 142 is used for temporarily storing the ice. Those skilled in the art may determine appropriate shape and size of the ice container 142 according to practical situations.
  • the ice container 142 may be a bowl or may be rectangular in shape.
  • the ice dispensing channel 180 is used for delivering ice to the user.
  • the ice dispensing channel 180 is realized as a slide for utilizing gravity in automatically delivering the ice to the user.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 is configured to perform a process for receiving ice from the one or more ice producing machines 120 and delivering the received ice to the user through the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing exemplary steps of the process.
  • the ice container 142 is vertically moved to reach a selected ice producing machine for receiving ice therefrom.
  • the selected ice producing machine is selected from the one or more ice producing machines 120. Unless otherwise specified, hereinafter consider the specific case that the ice producing machine 121 is the selected ice producing machine in illustrating operational details of the system 100.
  • a vertical position 143 of the ice container 142 is adjusted so as to adjust an inner depth 144 of the ice container 142 allowable for storing the ice. Furthermore, the inner depth 144 is determined such that a predicted load of ice carried by the ice container 142 under the determined inner depth 144 is the selected quantity of ice to be delivered to the user. Thereby, the user is enabled to obtain a desired amount of ice as reflected in the selected quantity of ice that is received.
  • the vertical position 143 is variable and is dynamically set according to the selected quantity of ice.
  • inner depth 144 is determinable according to the aforementioned vertical position 143 and other details of the system 100.
  • One specific case of inner depth determination is illustrated as follows.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 further comprises one or more light detecting modules (e.g., light detecting modules 150, 155) each for detecting whether a bulk of accumulated ice in the ice container 142 has a height reaching the determined inner depth 144.
  • the light detecting module 150 (155) is realized with a light source 151 (152) and a photodetector 153 (154) .
  • the light source 151 (152) may be implemented as a LED or a laser diode.
  • the light sources 151, 152 and photodetectors 153, 154 are installed outside the ice container 142 and are stationary.
  • the ice container 142 may be transparent, or the ice container 142 may be formed with gap-like opening (s) 148 on the container casing.
  • the ice producing machine 121 is the selected ice producing machine
  • the bottom of the ice container 142 is selected to define the vertical position 143.
  • the inner depth 144 is determined to be a vertical distance between the bottom of the ice container 142 and a vertical position of the light detecting module 150.
  • the inner depth 144 is determinable according to the vertical position 143 of the ice container 142 and the vertical position of the light detecting module 150, it is first required to have an accurate determination of the vertical position 143 of the ice container 142. Since the ice container 142 is movable, the vertical position 143 can usually be accurately measured as a traveling distance from a certain reference position as the ice container 142 moves. In certain embodiments, the reference position is set up in the system 100 as follows. Refer to FIG. 2. A strip 146 is mounted on the ice container 142. A switch 145 is installed at a location of the ice transferring subsystem 140 defining a reference start-up level (i.e. the reference position) for the ice container 142. Furthermore, the switch 145 is configured to be triggered by the strip 146. As a result, the ice container 142 is determined to be located at the reference start-up level when the strip 146 triggers the switch 145.
  • a reference start-up level i.e. the reference position
  • the switch 145 may be a mechanical switch, a photoelectric switch, etc. If the switch 145 is a mechanical switch, the strip 146 is rigid and is usually made of a rigid material. If the switch 145 is a photoelectric switch, the strip 146 is opaque and may be formed by plastic.
  • FIGS. 3A-3C depict various cross-sectional views of the ice container 142 and vicinity thereof under conditions of storing ice at a high ice level, a medium ice level and a low ice level, respectively.
  • the ice container 142 is moved and positioned with a first vertical position 143a, giving a first inner depth 144a, which is a distance between the first vertical position 143a and a line joining the light source 151 and the photodetector 153.
  • the ice container 142 is positioned at a second vertical position 143b and a third vertical position 143c so as to yield a second inner depth 144b and a third inner depth 144c, respectively.
  • FIGS. 3A-3C are depicted to have the ice in the ice container 142 to attain the high ice level, the medium ice level and the low ice level, respectively. It follows that the first inner depth 144a is longer than the second inner depth 144b, which is in turn longer than the third inner depth 144c. As a result, it demonstrates that the selected quantity of ice delivered to be user is greatest for the case of FIG. 3A, is smaller for the case of FIG. 3B, and is further smaller for the case of FIG. 3C.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 receives ice from the ice producing machine 121 and deposits the received ice into the ice container 142.
  • the ice accumulated in the ice container 142 reaches a height that is detected by the light detecting module 150, the accumulated ice fills up a part of the ice container 142 with the determined inner depth 144.
  • the light detecting module 150 is triggered, causing the system 100 to command the ice producing machine 121 to stop delivering ice to the ice container 142.
  • the load of ice in the ice container 142 is maintained to be the selected quantity of ice desired to be delivered to the user.
  • the ice container 142 loaded with the ice is then vertically moved to reach the ice dispensing channel 180 in a step 830.
  • the load of ice in the ice container 142 is unloaded to the ice dispensing channel 180 through an inlet thereof 181.
  • the user receives the ice through an outlet 182 of the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • the ice dispensing channel 180 is arranged such that the inlet 181 is positioned higher than the outlet 182 in order to utilize gravity for automatically delivering the load of ice to the user. It is preferable that the ice dispensing channel 180 is implemented as a slide.
  • the loaded ice container 142 i.e. the ice container 142 loaded with the ice
  • the ice dispensing channel 180 when the selected ice producing machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • it allows that user to conveniently procure the ice from the ice dispensing channel 180 without a need to install the selected ice producing machine at a higher position than the ice dispensing channel 180 in utilizing gravity for ice delivery.
  • at least one of the one or more ice producing machines 120 is lower than the ice dispensing channel 180 in position.
  • all of the one or more ice producing machines 120 are lower than the ice dispensing channel 180 in position.
  • the four ice producing machines 121-124 are positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • the four ice producing machines 121-124 are lower than the ice dispensing channel 180 in the sense that respective ice-releasing outlets 221-224 of the four ice producing machines 121-124 for outputting ice are positioned lower than the inlet 181 of the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 is realized with a belt 160 for vertically moving the ice container 142.
  • the ice container 142 is connected to and carried by the belt 160.
  • a motor 165 is used to drive the belt 160.
  • the belt 160 is held in tension by two wheels 161, 162, denoted as a first wheel 161 and a second wheel 162.
  • the two wheels 161, 162 are positioned to vertically separate from each other such that the belt 160 is positioned upright.
  • the belt is engaged with the two wheels 161, 162 and is rotatable synchronously with rotation of each of the two wheels 161, 162.
  • the two wheels 161, 162 drive the belt 160 to controllably rotate in a clockwise direction or an anti-clockwise direction to thereby enable the ice container 142 to move upwardly and downwardly, as depicted in FIG. 2.
  • the two wheels 161, 162 receive rotational torque from the motor 165, which acts as a rotary actuator.
  • the motor 165 is coupled to the first wheel 161, which is positioned lower than the second wheel 162, thereby allowing convenient installation of the motor 165, which is usually heavy, in the ice transferring subsystem 140.
  • the motor 165 indirectly drives the belt 160.
  • each of the first and second wheels 161, 162 is a gear.
  • the belt 160 is a geared belt.
  • a mechanism made up of the belt and the two wheels may be used to vertically move the ice container 142 upwardly and downwardly.
  • a rigid track (not shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2) may be installed in the ice transferring subsystem 140 and the ice container 142 is allowed to move along the track.
  • the system 100 further comprises one or more ice transferring slides 171, 172 configured such that ice generated by the selected ice producing machine slides along a respective ice transferring slide to drop into the ice container 142.
  • Each ice transferring slide may be used to transport ice generated by one ice producing machine to the ice container 142.
  • the one or more ice transferring slides 171, 172 may include one or more multi-input single-output slides each used for collecting ice individually from plural ice producing machines and dropping the collected ice into the ice container 142.
  • ice transferring slides 171, 172 as shown in FIG. 1A are multi-input single-output slides.
  • the ice transferring slide 171 serves the ice producing machines 121, 122.
  • the ice transferring slide 172 serves the ice producing machines 123, 124. Using the one or more ice transferring slides 171, 172 in the system 100 may yield an advantage of saving material costs in manufacturing the system 100.
  • the ice transferring slide 171 for illustrating a representative ice transferring slide as disclosed in the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 depicts a top view of the ice container 142 approaching the ice transferring slide 171.
  • the ice transferring slide 171 has an outlet 177 for outputting the ice received from the selected ice producing machine to the ice container 142.
  • the ice transferring slide 171 further comprises a plurality of bendable fingers 178 located at the outlet 177 for decelerating the ice (which is in motion) before the ice drops into the ice container 142.
  • Another advantage of the plurality of bendable fingers 178 is to decrease a gap between the ice transferring slide 171 and the ice container 142, further making the transfer of ice from the ice transferring slide 171 to the ice container 142 smoothly.
  • the plurality of bendable fingers 178 may be made of rubber or silicone rubber.
  • the ice transferring slide 171 is formed by a U-shaped piece of resistant material, such as plastic and metal, for transferring the ice pushed out of the selected ice producing machine by a helix screw into the ice container 142.
  • FIGS. 5-7 depict respective sequences of actions taken by first, second and third configurations of the ice container 142 in unloading the ice therein to a cup 910.
  • FIG. 5 shows a first ice container 142a as the first configuration of the ice container 142.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 further comprises an extended arm 545 rigidly attached to the belt 160 and pivotally connected to the first ice container 142a through a hinge 546 such that the first ice container 142a is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt 160.
  • the first ice container 142a containing a load of ice is positioned upright when the first ice container 142a approaches the inlet 181 of the ice dispensing channel 180 (inset a) .
  • the first ice container 142a rotates towards the inlet 181 (inset b) for unloading the load of ice into the inlet (inset c) .
  • the first ice container 142a rotates away from the inlet 181 and returns to an upright position (inset d) .
  • the load of ice is deposited into the cup 910 through the outlet 182 of the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • FIG. 6 which shows a second ice container 142b as the second configuration of the ice container 142.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 further comprises a platform 647, a hinge 646 and an extended arm 645.
  • the second ice container 142b is fixed on, and is hence driven by, the platform 647.
  • the extended arm 645 is rigidly attached to the belt 160 and is pivotally connected to the platform 647 through the hinge 646 such that the second ice container 142b is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt 160.
  • the second ice container 142b containing a load of ice is positioned upright when the second ice container 142b approaches the inlet 181 of the ice dispensing channel 180 (inset a) .
  • the second ice container 142b driven by the platform 647, rotates towards the inlet 181 (inset b) for unloading the load of ice into the inlet (inset c) .
  • the platform 647 drives the second ice container 142b to rotate away from the inlet 181 and returns to an upright position (inset d) .
  • the load of ice is deposited into the cup 910 through the outlet 182 of the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • FIG. 7 shows a third ice container 142c as the third configuration of the ice container 142.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 further comprises a hinge 746, an extended arm 745 and a knob 747.
  • the knob 747 is located around the inlet 181 of the ice dispending channel 180.
  • the third ice container 142c is divided into an upper part 711 and a lower part 712.
  • the upper part 711 is attached to the belt 160 through the hinge 746 such that the upper part 711 is rotatable about the hinge 746.
  • the lower part 712 is rigidly attached to the belt 160, and is hence stationary and not rotatable.
  • the upper part 711 is hollow and is used to store ice.
  • the upper part 711 has an opening 713 on a bottom side of the upper part 711, allowing the ice stored in the upper part 711 to be unloaded through the opening 713.
  • the lower part 712 is hard, and is used to block the opening 713 when the upper and lower parts 711, 712 are aligned.
  • the upper part 711 is rigidly connected to the extended arm 745.
  • the knob 747, the extended arm 745 and the third ice container 142c are arranged as follows. Initially, the third ice container 142c containing a load of ice is positioned upright with the upper and lower parts 711, 712 aligned.
  • the third ice container 142c and the extended arm 745 move upwardly by the belt 160 to approach the inlet 181 of the ice dispensing channel 180 (inset a) .
  • the extended arm 745 hits the knob 747 and is blocked by the knob 747, the upper part 711 is rotated about the hinge 746 whereas the lower part 712 remains not rotated, thereby revealing the opening 713 (inset b) .
  • the rotation of the upper part 711 causes the load of ice to be unloaded from the upper part 711 into the inlet 181 through the opening 713.
  • the upper part 711 continues to rotate as it moves up (inset c) , emptying the upper part 711.
  • the extended arm 745 is able to go around the knob 747.
  • the upper part 711 returns back to an upright position and re-aligns with the lower part 712, closing the opening 713 (inset d) .
  • the load of ice is deposited into the cup 910 through the outlet 182 of the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • an interface 714 between the upper part 711 and the lower part 712 is curved so that when the upper part 711 rotates, the ice therein falls to the ice dispensing channel 180 naturally.
  • a limit switch 785 is installed above the knob 747.
  • the third ice container 142c When the third ice container 142c hits the limit switch 785, it signals that the third ice container 142c has unloaded the load of ice such that the third ice container 142c may not continue to go upward.
  • the distance moved by the third ice container 142c from the reference start-up level is estimated by counting the number of rotations made by the motor 165 without a need to install the limit switch 785.
  • the ice transferring subsystem 140 is further configured to return to the reference start-up level as defined by the installation location of the switch 145.
  • one or more UV light sources 420 are installed in the ice transferring subsystem 140, and are arranged to irradiate the ice container 142 for discouraging pathogen incubation inside the ice container 142. Generally, the one or more UV light sources 420 are moved with the ice container 142. Conveniently, one or more individual UV light sources may be installed inside the ice container 142.
  • the system 100 further comprises one or more computing processors 230 for controlling various components of the system 100.
  • the one or more computing processors 230 are configured to control at least the one or more ice producing machines 120 and the ice transferring subsystem 140.
  • the one or more computing processors 230 may include a general-purpose processor, a microcontroller, a specialized processor, etc.
  • the system 100 further comprises a control and power module 130 for controlling the system 100 and supplying electrical power thereto.
  • the one or more computing processors 230 may be housed in the control and power module 130.
  • the system 100 may further comprise a shaved ice machine 290 for shaving ice into crushed form.
  • the shaved ice machine 290 has an ice-receiving slide 280 for receiving ice in block form, and an ice-discharging slide 285 for outputting ice in crushed form.
  • the one or more computing processors 230 are further configured to control the shaved ice machine 290.
  • FIG. 9 depicts a process performed by the ice transferring subsystem 140 for receiving ice from the one or more ice producing machines 120 and delivering the ice in crushed form to the user through the ice dispensing channel 180.
  • the process performs the steps 810 and 820 as disclosed above. After the ice received from the selected ice producing machine is deposited into the ice container 142 in the step 820, the ice container 142 is vertically moved to reach the ice-receiving slide 280 in a step 881. Afterwards, the ice is unloaded from the ice container 142 to the shaved ice machine 290 in a step 882.
  • the ice container 142 is vertically moved from the ice-receiving slide 280 to the ice-discharging slide 285 of the shaved ice machine 290 in a step 883.
  • the ice in crushed form is deposited from the shaved ice machine 290 into the ice container 142 in a step 884.
  • the ice container 142 is vertically moved to reach the ice dispensing channel 180 in the step 830.
  • the step 840 is performed thereafter.
  • the system 100 may be installed with one or more additional ice dispensing channels.
  • the ice dispensing channel 180 and the one or more additional ice dispensing channels may be installed at different heights.
  • users of different heights e.g., children and adults, can conveniently and comfortably withdraw ice from the system 100.
  • FIG. 10 depicts a variant of the system 100 (labeled as 100a) formed with a plurality of individual ice dispensing channels 1011, 1012 for delivering ice to different locations.
  • the ice dispensing channel 180, from which the user receives the ice is user-selectable and is selected from the plurality of individual ice dispensing channels 1011, 1012.

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  • Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)

Abstract

In an ice dispensing system (100), ice produced by ice producing machines (121, 122, 123, 124) is delivered to a user through an ice transferring subsystem (140). In the ice transferring subsystem (140), an ice container (142) is vertically moved to reach a selected machine for receiving ice therefrom. Advantageously, a vertical position of the ice container (142) is adjusted for adjusting an inner depth thereof allowable for storing ice such that a selected quantity of ice for delivery to the user is loaded into the ice container (142). The loaded ice container (142) is vertically moved to an ice dispensing channel (180) and unloads the ice thereto for dispensing to the user. In particular, the loaded ice container (142) is elevated to the ice dispensing channel (180) when the selected machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel (180), thereby providing user convenience in procuring the ice from the ice dispensing channel (180) without installing the selected machine at a higher position than the ice dispensing channel (180) in utilizing gravity for ice delivery.

Description

Ice Dispensing System
Inventor: Chun Kit LAI
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention claims the benefit of and priority to US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/032,748, filed on 1 June 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirely.
BACKGROUND Field of the invention
The present invention generally relates to an automated food and beverage production device. In particular, the present invention relates to an ice dispensing system in the food and beverage industry.
Description of related art
In the area of food and beverage production, there are numerous devices related to producing and distributing ice. These devices are mainly focused on producing and/or storing a certain amount of ice for a restaurant.
US 2,526,262 discloses an automatic ice-cube producing and storing machine. One limitation of this machine is that it only focuses on producing and storing ice. Furthermore, this machine removes or delivers the ice to another place by free falling only. The movement of ice is then limited to downward movement during operation. If the ice is moved to another location from the storage location, manpower is required. It is desirable to have a system that can be used in a restaurant or in the food and beverage production industry, and that operates completely autonomously for transferring ice from one location to another.
There are also a lot of devices focusing mainly on ice dispensing for a restaurant. US 6,135,173 discloses an ice dispenser for a refrigerator. US 5,526,854 discloses a through-the-door water and ice dispenser. Each of the two aforementioned dispensers uses a helix-shaped screw that can be rotated to push the ice into a dispensing hole. The limitation of the two dispensers is that the quantity of ice dispensed is not consistent every time. The dispensing time of any given quantity differs and depends on the amount of ice remaining in  the container. If the container is full, it would take one to two revolutions of the screw to obtain the ice. On the other hand, if there is very little ice, it would take more revolutions for the ice to reach the dispensing hole. In some cases, the ice is pushed to the corners of the machine. Such ice would never be reached by the helix-shaped screw. It is desirable to have a fully automatic ice dispensing system that can also ensure a predetermined quantity of ice to be dispensed, allowing food and beverage producing processes to be fully automated and enabling the quantity of ice to be customized.
Other desirable features and characteristics of the fully automatic ice dispensing system as disclosed herein will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first aspect of the present invention is to provide a first ice dispensing system for delivering a selected quantity of ice to a user.
The system comprises one or more ice producing machines and an ice transferring subsystem. The ice transferring subsystem comprises an ice container and an ice dispensing channel. The ice transferring subsystem is configured to: vertically move the ice container to reach a selected ice producing machine selected from the one or more ice producing machines for subsequently receiving ice from the selected ice producing machine and depositing the received ice into the ice container; vertically move the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel; unload the ice from the ice container to the ice dispensing channel for delivering the ice to the user; and in vertically moving the ice container to reach the selected ice producing machine, adjust a vertical position of the ice container so as to adjust an inner depth of the ice container allowable for storing the ice, wherein the inner depth is determined such that a predicted load of ice carried by the ice container under the determined inner depth is the selected quantity of ice.
It is preferable that the ice transferring subsystem is further configured as follows. In vertically moving the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel, the loaded ice container is elevated from the selected ice producing machine to the ice dispensing channel when the selected ice producing machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel. Thereby, it allows the user to conveniently procure the ice from the ice dispensing channel without a need to install the selected ice producing machine at a higher position than the ice dispensing channel in utilizing gravity for ice delivery. To utilize this  advantage, at least one of the one or more ice producing machines is lower than the ice dispensing channel in position. Optionally, all of the one or more ice producing machines are lower than the ice dispensing channel in position.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a belt and a motor. The belt is used for vertically moving the ice container. The ice container is connected to the belt. The motor is used for driving the belt. The ice transferring subsystem may further comprise a first wheel and a second wheel. The second wheel is positioned higher than the first wheel. The belt is engaged with the first and second wheels and is rotatable synchronously with rotation of each of the first and second wheels. The first wheel is coupled to the motor such that the motor is arranged to indirectly drive the belt. In certain embodiments, each of the first and second wheels is a gear, and the belt is a geared belt.
The ice container may be a bowl. It is also possible that the ice container may be rectangular in shape.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem further comprises one or more light detecting modules each for detecting whether a bulk of accumulated ice in the ice container has a height reaching the determined inner depth. An individual light detecting module comprises a light source and a photodetector. The light source may be a light emitting diode (LED) , a laser diode, etc.
In certain embodiments, the system further comprises one or more ice transferring slides configured such that ice generated by the selected ice producing machine slides along a respective ice transferring slide to drop into the ice container.
The one or more ice transferring slides may include a multi-input single-output slide for collecting ice individually from plural ice producing machines and dropping the collected ice into the ice container.
The respective transferring slide may comprise an outlet and a plurality of bendable fingers. The outlet is used for outputting the ice received from the selected ice producing machine to the ice container. The plurality of bendable fingers is located at the outlet for decelerating the ice before dropping into the ice container. The plurality of bendable fingers may be made of rubber or silicone rubber.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem further comprises an extended arm rigidly attached to the belt and pivotally connected to the ice container such that the ice container is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a platform and an extended arm. The ice container is fixed on the platform. The extended arm  is rigidly attached to the belt and pivotally connected to the platform such that the ice container is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a hinge, an extended arm and a knob. The ice container is divided into an upper part and a lower part. The upper part is attached to the belt through the hinge such that the upper part is rotatable about the hinge. The lower part is rigidly attached to the belt such that the lower part is not rotatable. The upper part is hollow for storing ice, and has an opening on a bottom side of the upper part to thereby allow the ice to be unloaded through the opening. The lower part used for blocking the opening when the upper and lower parts are aligned. The knob is located around an inlet of the ice dispending channel. The knob, the extended arm and the ice container are arranged such that when the extended arm and the ice container are upwardly moved by the belt and when the extended arm is blocked by the knob, the upper part is rotated about the hinge to reveal the opening, causing the ice loaded in the upper part to be unloaded into the inlet of the ice dispensing channel through the opening.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a strip and a switch. The strip is mounted on the ice container. The switch is configured to be triggered by the strip. The switch is installed at a location defining a reference start-up level for the ice container, whereby the ice container is determined to be located at the reference start-up level when the strip triggers the switch. The switch may be a mechanical switch or a photoelectric switch. In case the switch is a photoelectric switch, the strip is selected to be opaque. The strip may be made of plastic.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem further comprises one or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources arranged to irradiate the ice container for discouraging pathogen incubation inside the ice container.
The system further comprises one or more computing processors for controlling the one or more ice producing machines and the ice transferring subsystem. The one or more computing processors may be housed in a control and power module, which is used for controlling the system and supplying electrical power thereto.
In certain embodiments, the system further comprises a shaved ice machine for shaving ice into crushed form. The shaved ice machine has an ice-receiving slide for receiving ice, and an ice-discharging slide for outputting ice in crushed form. The ice transferring subsystem is further configured to: after the ice received from the selected ice producing machine is deposited into the ice container, vertically move the ice container to reach the ice-receiving slide and unload the ice from the ice container to the shaved ice  machine via the ice-receiving slide; and vertically move the ice container from the ice-receiving slide to reach the ice-discharging slide for allowing the ice in crushed form to be deposited from the shaved ice machine into the ice container before the ice container is vertically moved to reach the ice dispensing channel.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem is formed with a plurality of individual ice dispensing channels for delivering the ice to different locations. The ice dispensing channel is user-selectable and is selected from the plurality of individual ice dispensing channels.
A second aspect of the present invention is to provide a second ice dispensing system for delivering a selected quantity of ice to a user.
The system comprises one or more ice producing machines and an ice transferring subsystem. The ice transferring subsystem comprises an ice container and an ice dispensing channel. The ice transferring subsystem is configured to: vertically move the ice container to reach a selected ice producing machine selected from the one or more ice producing machines for subsequently receiving ice from the selected ice producing machine and depositing the received ice into the ice container; vertically move the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel; unload the ice from the ice container to the ice dispensing channel for delivering the ice to the user; and in vertically moving the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel, elevate the loaded ice container from the selected ice producing machine to the ice dispensing channel when the selected ice producing machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel, thereby allowing the user to conveniently procure the ice from the ice dispensing channel without a need to install the selected ice producing machine at a higher position than the ice dispensing channel in utilizing gravity for ice delivery. In particular, at least one of the one or more ice producing machines is lower than the ice dispensing channel in position.
Other aspects of the present invention are disclosed as illustrated by the embodiments hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages in accordance with a present embodiment.
FIG. 1A depicts a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view of an ice dispensing system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1B depicts a side view of the ice dispensing system.
FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the ice dispensing system, revealing structural details thereof.
FIG. 3A depicts a cross-sectional view of an ice container and vicinity thereof in the disclosed system, where the ice container is positioned at a first vertical position such that ice is allowed to be deposited into the ice container until a high ice level in the ice container is reached.
FIG. 3B depicts a cross-sectional view of the ice container and vicinity thereof, where the ice container is positioned at a second vertical position such that ice is allowed to be deposited into the ice container until a medium ice level in the ice container is reached.
FIG. 3C depicts a cross-sectional view of the ice container and vicinity thereof, where the ice container is positioned at a third vertical position such that ice is allowed to be deposited into the ice container until a low ice level in the ice container is reached.
FIG. 4 depicts a top view of the ice container approaching an ice transferring slide, where the ice transferring slide includes a plurality of bendable fingers for decelerating ice in motion when the ice falls into the ice container.
FIG. 5 depicts a sequence of actions taken by a first configuration of the ice container in unloading the ice therein to a cup.
FIG. 6 depicts a sequence of actions taken by a second configuration of the ice container in unloading the ice therein to the cup.
FIG. 7 depicts a sequence of actions taken by a third configuration of the ice container in unloading the ice therein to the cup.
FIG. 8 exemplarily depicts a process performed by an ice transferring subsystem of the disclosed system for receiving ice from one or more ice producing machines and delivering the received ice to the user.
FIG. 9 exemplarily depicts a process performed by the ice transferring subsystem for receiving ice from the one or more ice producing machines and delivering the ice in crushed form to the user.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been depicted to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.
Disclosed herein is an ice dispensing system for delivering a selected quantity of ice to a user. The selected quantity may be selected from a plurality of choices, or may be a preselected amount, weight or volume of ice. The selected quantity may be user-selectable or may be determined without the user’s involvement. Advantageously, the disclosed system is fully automatic and dispenses the quantity of ice as selected. As another advantage, the disclosed system allows a user to conveniently procure the ice without a need to put an ice producing machine at a considerably high position for utilizing gravity in ice delivery. Hence, the location factor of where to put the ice producing machine can be considered independently from where to retrieve the ice. Furthermore, it allows more freedom in placing the system such that the ice is delivered to the user without a hassle of requiring the user to, e.g., bend his or her waist in procuring the ice.
The disclosed system is exemplarily illustrated with the aid of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary ice dispensing system 100 and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof. FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the system 100, revealing structural details thereof. A reference vertical direction 900 is defined as an upward pointing direction according to the gravitational force. Herein in the specification and appended claims, positional and directional words such as “above, ” “below, ” “higher, ” “upper, ” “lower, ” “top, ” “bottom” and “horizontal” are interpreted with reference to the reference vertical direction 900.
The system 100 comprises one or more ice producing machines 120 and an ice transferring subsystem 140.
The one or more ice producing machines 120 are used for producing ice, and may be individually or collectively used for ice generation. As an example for illustration, FIG. 1A depicts four ice producing machines 121-124 in total, where the two  ice producing machines  121, 122 are positioned at an upper horizontal level while the other two  ice producing machines  123, 124 are located at a lower horizontal level. Nevertheless, the disclosed system is not limited only to using four such machines and arranging the machines  pair-wisely; the disclosed system may use any practical number of ice producing machines and any location scheme of arranging the machines.
The ice transferring subsystem 140 comprises an ice container 142 and an ice dispensing channel 180. The ice container 142 is used for temporarily storing the ice. Those skilled in the art may determine appropriate shape and size of the ice container 142 according to practical situations. For example, the ice container 142 may be a bowl or may be rectangular in shape. The ice dispensing channel 180 is used for delivering ice to the user. Preferably, the ice dispensing channel 180 is realized as a slide for utilizing gravity in automatically delivering the ice to the user.
In the system 100, the ice transferring subsystem 140 is configured to perform a process for receiving ice from the one or more ice producing machines 120 and delivering the received ice to the user through the ice dispensing channel 180. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing exemplary steps of the process.
In a step 810, the ice container 142 is vertically moved to reach a selected ice producing machine for receiving ice therefrom. The selected ice producing machine is selected from the one or more ice producing machines 120. Unless otherwise specified, hereinafter consider the specific case that the ice producing machine 121 is the selected ice producing machine in illustrating operational details of the system 100.
In the step 810, advantageously and highly preferably, a vertical position 143 of the ice container 142 is adjusted so as to adjust an inner depth 144 of the ice container 142 allowable for storing the ice. Furthermore, the inner depth 144 is determined such that a predicted load of ice carried by the ice container 142 under the determined inner depth 144 is the selected quantity of ice to be delivered to the user. Thereby, the user is enabled to obtain a desired amount of ice as reflected in the selected quantity of ice that is received. Note that the vertical position 143 is variable and is dynamically set according to the selected quantity of ice.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inner depth 144 is determinable according to the aforementioned vertical position 143 and other details of the system 100. One specific case of inner depth determination is illustrated as follows.
In certain preferable embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem 140 further comprises one or more light detecting modules (e.g., light detecting modules 150, 155) each for detecting whether a bulk of accumulated ice in the ice container 142 has a height reaching the determined inner depth 144. In general, the light detecting module 150 (155) is realized with a light source 151 (152) and a photodetector 153 (154) . The light source 151 (152) may  be implemented as a LED or a laser diode. Furthermore, the  light sources  151, 152 and  photodetectors  153, 154 are installed outside the ice container 142 and are stationary. To allow light beams generated by the  light sources  151, 152 to pass through the ice container 142 for probing the ice, the ice container 142 may be transparent, or the ice container 142 may be formed with gap-like opening (s) 148 on the container casing.
As the ice producing machine 121 is the selected ice producing machine, consider the light detecting module 150. As a convenient example for illustrating determination of the inner depth 144, the bottom of the ice container 142 is selected to define the vertical position 143. The inner depth 144 is determined to be a vertical distance between the bottom of the ice container 142 and a vertical position of the light detecting module 150.
Although the inner depth 144 is determinable according to the vertical position 143 of the ice container 142 and the vertical position of the light detecting module 150, it is first required to have an accurate determination of the vertical position 143 of the ice container 142. Since the ice container 142 is movable, the vertical position 143 can usually be accurately measured as a traveling distance from a certain reference position as the ice container 142 moves. In certain embodiments, the reference position is set up in the system 100 as follows. Refer to FIG. 2. A strip 146 is mounted on the ice container 142. A switch 145 is installed at a location of the ice transferring subsystem 140 defining a reference start-up level (i.e. the reference position) for the ice container 142. Furthermore, the switch 145 is configured to be triggered by the strip 146. As a result, the ice container 142 is determined to be located at the reference start-up level when the strip 146 triggers the switch 145.
The switch 145 may be a mechanical switch, a photoelectric switch, etc. If the switch 145 is a mechanical switch, the strip 146 is rigid and is usually made of a rigid material. If the switch 145 is a photoelectric switch, the strip 146 is opaque and may be formed by plastic.
FIGS. 3A-3C depict various cross-sectional views of the ice container 142 and vicinity thereof under conditions of storing ice at a high ice level, a medium ice level and a low ice level, respectively. In FIG. 3A, the ice container 142 is moved and positioned with a first vertical position 143a, giving a first inner depth 144a, which is a distance between the first vertical position 143a and a line joining the light source 151 and the photodetector 153. Similarly, in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, the ice container 142 is positioned at a second vertical position 143b and a third vertical position 143c so as to yield a second inner depth 144b and a third inner depth 144c, respectively. FIGS. 3A-3C are depicted to have the ice in the ice container 142 to attain the high ice level, the medium ice level and the low ice level,  respectively. It follows that the first inner depth 144a is longer than the second inner depth 144b, which is in turn longer than the third inner depth 144c. As a result, it demonstrates that the selected quantity of ice delivered to be user is greatest for the case of FIG. 3A, is smaller for the case of FIG. 3B, and is further smaller for the case of FIG. 3C.
After the step 810 is completed, the ice transferring subsystem 140, in a step 820, receives ice from the ice producing machine 121 and deposits the received ice into the ice container 142. When the ice accumulated in the ice container 142 reaches a height that is detected by the light detecting module 150, the accumulated ice fills up a part of the ice container 142 with the determined inner depth 144. The light detecting module 150 is triggered, causing the system 100 to command the ice producing machine 121 to stop delivering ice to the ice container 142. As a result, the load of ice in the ice container 142 is maintained to be the selected quantity of ice desired to be delivered to the user.
The ice container 142 loaded with the ice is then vertically moved to reach the ice dispensing channel 180 in a step 830. Afterwards, in a step 840, the load of ice in the ice container 142 is unloaded to the ice dispensing channel 180 through an inlet thereof 181. The user receives the ice through an outlet 182 of the ice dispensing channel 180. Preferably, the ice dispensing channel 180 is arranged such that the inlet 181 is positioned higher than the outlet 182 in order to utilize gravity for automatically delivering the load of ice to the user. It is preferable that the ice dispensing channel 180 is implemented as a slide.
In the step 830, the loaded ice container 142, i.e. the ice container 142 loaded with the ice, is elevated from the selected ice producing machine to the ice dispensing channel 180 when the selected ice producing machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel 180. Advantageously, it allows that user to conveniently procure the ice from the ice dispensing channel 180 without a need to install the selected ice producing machine at a higher position than the ice dispensing channel 180 in utilizing gravity for ice delivery. To utilize this advantage, preferably at least one of the one or more ice producing machines 120 is lower than the ice dispensing channel 180 in position. It is generally more preferable that all of the one or more ice producing machines 120 are lower than the ice dispensing channel 180 in position. As demonstrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the four ice producing machines 121-124 are positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel 180. In particular, the four ice producing machines 121-124 are lower than the ice dispensing channel 180 in the sense that respective ice-releasing outlets 221-224 of the four ice producing machines 121-124 for outputting ice are positioned lower than the inlet 181 of the ice dispensing channel 180.
Other details of the system 100 are elaborated as follows.
In one implementation, the ice transferring subsystem 140 is realized with a belt 160 for vertically moving the ice container 142. The ice container 142 is connected to and carried by the belt 160. A motor 165 is used to drive the belt 160.
Preferably, the belt 160 is held in tension by two  wheels  161, 162, denoted as a first wheel 161 and a second wheel 162. The two  wheels  161, 162 are positioned to vertically separate from each other such that the belt 160 is positioned upright. Without loss of generality, assume that the first wheel 161 is lower than the second wheel 162. The belt is engaged with the two  wheels  161, 162 and is rotatable synchronously with rotation of each of the two  wheels  161, 162. The two  wheels  161, 162 drive the belt 160 to controllably rotate in a clockwise direction or an anti-clockwise direction to thereby enable the ice container 142 to move upwardly and downwardly, as depicted in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the two  wheels  161, 162 receive rotational torque from the motor 165, which acts as a rotary actuator. Preferably, the motor 165 is coupled to the first wheel 161, which is positioned lower than the second wheel 162, thereby allowing convenient installation of the motor 165, which is usually heavy, in the ice transferring subsystem 140. Note that the motor 165 indirectly drives the belt 160.
In certain embodiments, each of the first and  second wheels  161, 162 is a gear. The belt 160 is a geared belt.
Apart from using a mechanism made up of the belt and the two wheels, other mechanisms may be used to vertically move the ice container 142 upwardly and downwardly. For example, a rigid track (not shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2) may be installed in the ice transferring subsystem 140 and the ice container 142 is allowed to move along the track.
Optionally, the system 100 further comprises one or more ice transferring slides 171, 172 configured such that ice generated by the selected ice producing machine slides along a respective ice transferring slide to drop into the ice container 142. Each ice transferring slide may be used to transport ice generated by one ice producing machine to the ice container 142. Alternatively, the one or more ice transferring slides 171, 172 may include one or more multi-input single-output slides each used for collecting ice individually from plural ice producing machines and dropping the collected ice into the ice container 142. For example, ice transferring slides 171, 172 as shown in FIG. 1A are multi-input single-output slides. The ice transferring slide 171 serves the  ice producing machines  121, 122. Similarly, the ice transferring slide 172 serves the  ice producing machines  123, 124. Using the one or more ice transferring slides 171, 172 in the system 100 may yield an advantage of saving material costs in manufacturing the system 100.
Consider the ice transferring slide 171 for illustrating a representative ice transferring slide as disclosed in the present invention. Refer to FIG. 4, which depicts a top view of the ice container 142 approaching the ice transferring slide 171. The ice transferring slide 171 has an outlet 177 for outputting the ice received from the selected ice producing machine to the ice container 142. Preferably and advantageously, the ice transferring slide 171 further comprises a plurality of bendable fingers 178 located at the outlet 177 for decelerating the ice (which is in motion) before the ice drops into the ice container 142. As a result of deceleration, the chance of defacing and damaging the ice from typically cubic shape is reduced, thereby avoiding objection raised by the user to the outlook of received ice cubes. Another advantage of the plurality of bendable fingers 178 is to decrease a gap between the ice transferring slide 171 and the ice container 142, further making the transfer of ice from the ice transferring slide 171 to the ice container 142 smoothly. The plurality of bendable fingers 178 may be made of rubber or silicone rubber.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring slide 171 is formed by a U-shaped piece of resistant material, such as plastic and metal, for transferring the ice pushed out of the selected ice producing machine by a helix screw into the ice container 142.
It is possible to have several different realizations of the ice container 142 for facilitating the unloading of the ice from the ice container 142 to the ice dispensing channel 180 in carrying out the step 840. FIGS. 5-7 depict respective sequences of actions taken by first, second and third configurations of the ice container 142 in unloading the ice therein to a cup 910.
Refer to FIG. 5, which shows a first ice container 142a as the first configuration of the ice container 142. The ice transferring subsystem 140 further comprises an extended arm 545 rigidly attached to the belt 160 and pivotally connected to the first ice container 142a through a hinge 546 such that the first ice container 142a is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt 160. Initially, the first ice container 142a containing a load of ice is positioned upright when the first ice container 142a approaches the inlet 181 of the ice dispensing channel 180 (inset a) . The first ice container 142a rotates towards the inlet 181 (inset b) for unloading the load of ice into the inlet (inset c) . After the load of ice is unloaded, the first ice container 142a rotates away from the inlet 181 and returns to an upright position (inset d) . The load of ice is deposited into the cup 910 through the outlet 182 of the ice dispensing channel 180.
Refer to FIG. 6, which shows a second ice container 142b as the second configuration of the ice container 142. The ice transferring subsystem 140 further comprises  a platform 647, a hinge 646 and an extended arm 645. The second ice container 142b is fixed on, and is hence driven by, the platform 647. The extended arm 645 is rigidly attached to the belt 160 and is pivotally connected to the platform 647 through the hinge 646 such that the second ice container 142b is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt 160. Initially, the second ice container 142b containing a load of ice is positioned upright when the second ice container 142b approaches the inlet 181 of the ice dispensing channel 180 (inset a) . The second ice container 142b, driven by the platform 647, rotates towards the inlet 181 (inset b) for unloading the load of ice into the inlet (inset c) . After the load of ice is unloaded, the platform 647 drives the second ice container 142b to rotate away from the inlet 181 and returns to an upright position (inset d) . The load of ice is deposited into the cup 910 through the outlet 182 of the ice dispensing channel 180.
Refer to FIG. 7, which shows a third ice container 142c as the third configuration of the ice container 142. The ice transferring subsystem 140 further comprises a hinge 746, an extended arm 745 and a knob 747. The knob 747 is located around the inlet 181 of the ice dispending channel 180. The third ice container 142c is divided into an upper part 711 and a lower part 712. The upper part 711 is attached to the belt 160 through the hinge 746 such that the upper part 711 is rotatable about the hinge 746. On the other hand, the lower part 712 is rigidly attached to the belt 160, and is hence stationary and not rotatable. The upper part 711 is hollow and is used to store ice. The upper part 711 has an opening 713 on a bottom side of the upper part 711, allowing the ice stored in the upper part 711 to be unloaded through the opening 713. The lower part 712 is hard, and is used to block the opening 713 when the upper and  lower parts  711, 712 are aligned. The upper part 711 is rigidly connected to the extended arm 745. The knob 747, the extended arm 745 and the third ice container 142c are arranged as follows. Initially, the third ice container 142c containing a load of ice is positioned upright with the upper and  lower parts  711, 712 aligned. The third ice container 142c and the extended arm 745 move upwardly by the belt 160 to approach the inlet 181 of the ice dispensing channel 180 (inset a) . When the extended arm 745 hits the knob 747 and is blocked by the knob 747, the upper part 711 is rotated about the hinge 746 whereas the lower part 712 remains not rotated, thereby revealing the opening 713 (inset b) . The rotation of the upper part 711 causes the load of ice to be unloaded from the upper part 711 into the inlet 181 through the opening 713. The upper part 711 continues to rotate as it moves up (inset c) , emptying the upper part 711. When the third ice container 142c continues to go up, the extended arm 745 is able to go around the knob 747. The upper part 711 returns back to an upright position and re-aligns with the lower part 712, closing the opening 713 (inset d) . The  load of ice is deposited into the cup 910 through the outlet 182 of the ice dispensing channel 180. Note that an interface 714 between the upper part 711 and the lower part 712 is curved so that when the upper part 711 rotates, the ice therein falls to the ice dispensing channel 180 naturally. Optionally, a limit switch 785 is installed above the knob 747. When the third ice container 142c hits the limit switch 785, it signals that the third ice container 142c has unloaded the load of ice such that the third ice container 142c may not continue to go upward. Alternatively, it is also possible that the distance moved by the third ice container 142c from the reference start-up level is estimated by counting the number of rotations made by the motor 165 without a need to install the limit switch 785.
In certain embodiments, the ice transferring subsystem 140 is further configured to return to the reference start-up level as defined by the installation location of the switch 145.
Refer to FIG. 4. Optionally, one or more UV light sources 420 are installed in the ice transferring subsystem 140, and are arranged to irradiate the ice container 142 for discouraging pathogen incubation inside the ice container 142. Generally, the one or more UV light sources 420 are moved with the ice container 142. Conveniently, one or more individual UV light sources may be installed inside the ice container 142.
The system 100 further comprises one or more computing processors 230 for controlling various components of the system 100. The one or more computing processors 230 are configured to control at least the one or more ice producing machines 120 and the ice transferring subsystem 140. The one or more computing processors 230 may include a general-purpose processor, a microcontroller, a specialized processor, etc.
In certain embodiments, the system 100 further comprises a control and power module 130 for controlling the system 100 and supplying electrical power thereto. The one or more computing processors 230 may be housed in the control and power module 130.
As an optional feature, the system 100 may further comprise a shaved ice machine 290 for shaving ice into crushed form. The shaved ice machine 290 has an ice-receiving slide 280 for receiving ice in block form, and an ice-discharging slide 285 for outputting ice in crushed form. Preferably and conveniently, the one or more computing processors 230 are further configured to control the shaved ice machine 290.
Modified from FIG. 8, FIG. 9 depicts a process performed by the ice transferring subsystem 140 for receiving ice from the one or more ice producing machines 120 and delivering the ice in crushed form to the user through the ice dispensing channel 180. The process performs the  steps  810 and 820 as disclosed above. After the ice received from the  selected ice producing machine is deposited into the ice container 142 in the step 820, the ice container 142 is vertically moved to reach the ice-receiving slide 280 in a step 881. Afterwards, the ice is unloaded from the ice container 142 to the shaved ice machine 290 in a step 882. After the step 882 is performed, the ice container 142 is vertically moved from the ice-receiving slide 280 to the ice-discharging slide 285 of the shaved ice machine 290 in a step 883. At the ice-discharging slide 285, the ice in crushed form is deposited from the shaved ice machine 290 into the ice container 142 in a step 884. Afterwards, the ice container 142 is vertically moved to reach the ice dispensing channel 180 in the step 830. The step 840 is performed thereafter.
In addition to the ice dispensing channel 180, the system 100 may be installed with one or more additional ice dispensing channels. Note that the ice dispensing channel 180 and the one or more additional ice dispensing channels may be installed at different heights. Advantageously, users of different heights, e.g., children and adults, can conveniently and comfortably withdraw ice from the system 100. For illustration, FIG. 10 depicts a variant of the system 100 (labeled as 100a) formed with a plurality of individual  ice dispensing channels  1011, 1012 for delivering ice to different locations. The ice dispensing channel 180, from which the user receives the ice, is user-selectable and is selected from the plurality of individual  ice dispensing channels  1011, 1012.
While exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should further be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, operation, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of steps and method of operation described in the exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (27)

  1. An ice dispensing system for delivering a selected quantity of ice to a user, the system comprising:
    one or more ice producing machines; and
    an ice transferring subsystem comprising an ice container and an ice dispensing channel, the ice transferring subsystem being configured to:
    vertically move the ice container to reach a selected ice producing machine selected from the one or more ice producing machines for subsequently receiving ice from the selected ice producing machine and depositing the received ice into the ice container;
    vertically move the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel;
    unload the ice from the ice container to the ice dispensing channel for delivering the ice to the user; and
    in vertically moving the ice container to reach the selected ice producing machine, adjust a vertical position of the ice container so as to adjust an inner depth of the ice container allowable for storing the ice, wherein the inner depth is determined such that a predicted load of ice carried by the ice container under the determined inner depth is the selected quantity of ice.
  2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ice transferring subsystem further comprises:
    a belt for vertically moving the ice container, the ice container being connected to the belt; and
    a motor for driving the belt.
  3. The system of claim 2, wherein the ice transferring subsystem further comprises:
    a first wheel and a second wheel positioned higher than the first wheel, the belt being engaged with the first and second wheels and being rotatable synchronously with rotation of each of the first and second wheels, the first  wheel being coupled to the motor such that the motor is arranged to indirectly drive the belt.
  4. The system of claim 3, wherein:
    each of the first and second wheels is a gear; and
    the belt is a geared belt.
  5. The system of claim 1, wherein the ice container is a bowl.
  6. The system of claim 1, wherein the ice container is rectangular in shape.
  7. The system of claim 1, wherein the ice transferring subsystem further comprises:
    one or more light detecting modules each for detecting whether a bulk of accumulated ice in the ice container has a height reaching the determined inner depth, an individual light detecting module comprising a light source and a photodetector.
  8. The system of claim 7, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode.
  9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
    one or more ice transferring slides configured such that ice generated by the selected ice producing machine slides along a respective ice transferring slide to drop into the ice container.
  10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more ice transferring slides include a multi-input single-output slide for collecting ice individually from plural ice producing machines and dropping the collected ice into the ice container.
  11. The system of claim 9, wherein the respective transferring slide comprises:
    an outlet for outputting the ice received from the selected ice producing machine to the ice container; and
    a plurality of bendable fingers located at the outlet for decelerating the ice before dropping into the ice container.
  12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of bendable fingers is made of rubber or silicone rubber.
  13. The system of claim 2, wherein the ice transferring subsystem further comprises:
    an extended arm rigidly attached to the belt and pivotally connected to the ice container such that the ice container is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt.
  14. The system of claim 2, wherein the ice transferring subsystem further comprises:
    a platform on which the ice container is fixed; and
    an extended arm rigidly attached to the belt and pivotally connected to the platform such that the ice container is indirectly, rotatably attached to the belt.
  15. The system of claim 2, wherein:
    the ice transferring subsystem further comprises a hinge, an extended arm and a knob;
    the ice container is divided into an upper part and a lower part, the upper part being attached to the belt through the hinge such that the upper part is rotatable about the hinge, the lower part being rigidly attached to the belt such that the lower part is not rotatable, the upper part being hollow for storing ice, the upper part having an opening on a bottom side of the upper part to thereby allow the ice to be unloaded through the opening, the lower part being used for blocking the opening when the upper and lower parts are aligned;
    the knob is located around an inlet of the ice dispending channel; and
    the knob, the extended arm and the ice container are arranged such that when the extended arm and the ice container are upwardly moved by the belt and when the extended arm is blocked by the knob, the upper part is rotated about the hinge to reveal the opening, causing the ice loaded in the upper part to be unloaded into the inlet of the ice dispensing channel through the opening.
  16. The system of claim 1, wherein the ice transferring subsystem further comprises:
    a strip mounted on the ice container; and
    a switch configured to be triggered by the strip, the switch being installed at a location defining a reference start-up level for the ice container, whereby the  ice container is determined to be located at the reference start-up level when the strip triggers the switch.
  17. The system of claim 16, wherein the switch is a mechanical switch.
  18. The system of claim 16, wherein the switch is a photoelectric switch.
  19. The system of claim 18, wherein the strip is made of plastic.
  20. The system of claim 1, wherein the ice transferring subsystem further comprises one or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources arranged to irradiate the ice container for discouraging pathogen incubation inside the ice container.
  21. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
    a control and power module for controlling the system and supplying electrical power thereto.
  22. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
    one or more computing processors for controlling the one or more ice producing machines and the ice transferring subsystem.
  23. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more computing processors are housed in a control and power module used for controlling the system and supplying electrical power thereto.
  24. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
    a shaved ice machine for shaving ice into crushed form, the shaved ice machine having an ice-receiving slide for receiving ice, and an ice-discharging slide for outputting ice in crushed form;
    wherein the ice transferring subsystem is further configured to:
    after the ice received from the selected ice producing machine is deposited into the ice container, vertically move the ice container to reach the ice-receiving slide and unload the ice from the ice container to the shaved ice machine via the ice-receiving slide; and
    vertically move the ice container from the ice-receiving slide to reach the ice-discharging slide for allowing the ice in crushed form to be deposited from the shaved ice machine into the ice container before the ice container is vertically moved to reach the ice dispensing channel.
  25. The system of claim 1, wherein the ice transferring subsystem is formed with a plurality of individual ice dispensing channels for delivering the ice to different locations, the ice dispensing channel being user-selectable and being selected from the plurality of individual ice dispensing channels.
  26. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein:
    the ice transferring subsystem is further configured to:
    in vertically moving the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel, elevate the loaded ice container from the selected ice producing machine to the ice dispensing channel when the selected ice producing machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel, thereby allowing the user to conveniently procure the ice from the ice dispensing channel without a need to install the selected ice producing machine at a higher position than the ice dispensing channel in utilizing gravity for ice delivery;
    and
    at least one of the one or more ice producing machines is lower than the ice dispensing channel in position.
  27. An ice dispensing system for delivering a selected quantity of ice to a user, the system comprising:
    one or more ice producing machines; and
    an ice transferring subsystem comprising an ice container and an ice dispensing channel, the ice transferring subsystem being configured to:
    vertically move the ice container to reach a selected ice producing machine selected from the one or more ice producing machines for subsequently receiving ice from the selected ice producing machine and depositing the received ice into the ice container;
    vertically move the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel;
    unload the ice from the ice container to the ice dispensing channel for delivering the ice to the user; and
    in vertically moving the ice container loaded with the ice to reach the ice dispensing channel, elevate the loaded ice container from the selected ice producing machine to the ice dispensing channel when the selected ice producing machine is positioned lower than the ice dispensing channel, thereby allowing the user to conveniently procure the ice from the ice dispensing channel without a need to install the selected ice producing machine at a higher position than the ice dispensing channel in utilizing gravity for ice delivery;
    wherein at least one of the one or more ice producing machines is lower than the ice dispensing channel in position.
PCT/CN2020/112981 2020-06-01 2020-09-02 Ice dispensing system WO2021243864A1 (en)

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Citations (8)

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WO2006083047A1 (en) * 2005-02-01 2006-08-10 Lg Electronics Inc. Refrigerator with icemaker
KR100765196B1 (en) * 2006-07-20 2007-10-09 삼성전자주식회사 A refrigerator
CN101059296A (en) * 2007-05-29 2007-10-24 南通四方冷热机械设备有限公司 Shelf lifting belt type ice conveyer
US20090145158A1 (en) * 2004-10-26 2009-06-11 Whirlpool Corporation Ice making and dispensing system
CN101514858A (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-26 弗里蒙特公司 Machine for the production and distribution of ice particles
CN102395845A (en) * 2009-04-23 2012-03-28 Lg电子株式会社 Refrigerator
CN102997536A (en) * 2011-09-09 2013-03-27 Lg电子株式会社 Refrigerator
US20190219319A1 (en) * 2018-01-16 2019-07-18 Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Llc Dispensing ice bin with sliding sleeve metering device

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090145158A1 (en) * 2004-10-26 2009-06-11 Whirlpool Corporation Ice making and dispensing system
WO2006083047A1 (en) * 2005-02-01 2006-08-10 Lg Electronics Inc. Refrigerator with icemaker
KR100765196B1 (en) * 2006-07-20 2007-10-09 삼성전자주식회사 A refrigerator
CN101059296A (en) * 2007-05-29 2007-10-24 南通四方冷热机械设备有限公司 Shelf lifting belt type ice conveyer
CN101514858A (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-26 弗里蒙特公司 Machine for the production and distribution of ice particles
CN102395845A (en) * 2009-04-23 2012-03-28 Lg电子株式会社 Refrigerator
CN102997536A (en) * 2011-09-09 2013-03-27 Lg电子株式会社 Refrigerator
US20190219319A1 (en) * 2018-01-16 2019-07-18 Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Llc Dispensing ice bin with sliding sleeve metering device

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