Systems and methods for dispensing liquid through a portion of an ice storage bin and related cleaning processes
AssigneeFollett Products, LLC
InventorPaul William Blayle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for dispensing ice and at least one liquid, and related cleaning processes. In one embodiment, the system comprises an ice bin for storing a quantity of ice particles, a dispensing tube for carrying at least a first liquid, and a discharge chute in communication with a discharge outlet, wherein the discharge chute is disposed upstream of the discharge outlet. An outlet end of the dispensing tube is positioned within a portion of the ice bin at a location aligned above the discharge outlet. The ice particles and the first liquid are dispensed through the discharge outlet separately or at the same time.
Claims20
A method for cleaning a system capable of dispensing ice and at least one liquid, the method comprising:
- performing a cleaning or sanitizing operation by introducing a cleaning or sanitizing solution into an ice bin through a first opening in the ice bin;
- and
- introducing a first liquid through a dispensing tube that is positioned at a second opening separate from and adjacent to the first opening in the ice bin,
- wherein upon introduction through the first opening, the cleaning or sanitizing solution flows from the first opening directly into an ice bin storage area and also flows into a discharge chute that dispenses ice and liquid to a user, and
- wherein upon introduction through the second opening, the first liquid flows into the discharge chute and also flows into the ice bin storage area;
- and
- cleaning at least the discharge chute and the ice bin storage area simultaneously by the first liquid.
A method for cleaning a system capable of dispensing ice and at least one liquid, the method comprising:
- performing a cleaning or sanitizing operation by introducing a cleaning or sanitizing solution into an ice bin through a first opening in the ice bin;
- and
- introducing a first liquid through a dispensing tube that is positioned at a second opening separate from and adjacent to the first opening in the ice bin, wherein upon introduction through the second opening, the first liquid flows through the dispensing tube into an ice bin storage area;
- and
- wherein upon introduction through the first opening, the cleaning or sanitizing solution flows from the first opening directly into the ice bin storage area;
- and
- cleaning the dispensing tube and the ice bin storage area simultaneously by the first liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.