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US 6,266,945 B1Granted
Ice supply system
AssigneeLancer Partnership, Ltd.
InventorAlfred A. Schroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ice supply system includes a dispenser system, an ice bagger system, and an ice transport system for providing a supply of ice. The ice transport system is operatively linked with the dispenser system for transporting ice to the dispenser system and with the ice bagger system for transporting ice to the ice bagger system.
Claims29
An ice supply system, comprising:
- a dispenser system;
- and
- an ice transport system coupled with the dispenser system, the ice transport system, comprising:
- an ice bin having a supply of ice therein,
- an ice conduit system coupling the ice bin with the dispenser system,
- a vacuum pump, and
- a vacuum line system coupling the vacuum pump with the ice conduit system, whereby activation of the vacuum pump creates a pressure differential within the ice conduit system that draws ice from the ice bin into the ice conduit system and delivers the ice to the dispenser system.
4 more elements
An ice supply system, comprising:
- an ice bagger system;
- and
- an ice transport system coupled with the ice bagger system, the ice transport system, comprising:
- an ice bin having a supply of ice therein,
- an ice conduit system coupling the ice bin with the ice bagger system,
- a vacuum pump, and
- a vacuum line system coupling the vacuum pump with the ice conduit system, whereby activation of the vacuum pump creates a pressure differential within the ice conduit system that draws ice from the ice bin into the ice conduit system and delivers the ice to the ice bagger system.
4 more elements
An ice supply system, comprising:
- a dispenser system;
- an ice bagger system;
- and
- an ice transport system coupled with the dispenser system and with the ice bagger system, the ice transport system, comprising:
- an ice bin having a supply of ice therein,
- a first ice conduit system coupling the ice bin with the dispenser system,
- a second ice conduit system coupling the ice bin with the ice bagger system,
- a vacuum pump,
- a first vacuum line system coupling the vacuum pump with the first ice conduit system, whereby activation of the vacuum pump creates a pressure differential within the first ice conduit system that draws ice from the ice bin into the first ice conduit system and delivers the ice to the dispenser system,
- a second vacuum line system coupling the vacuum pump with the second ice conduit system, whereby activation of the vacuum pump creates a pressure differential within the second ice conduit system that draws ice from the ice bin into the second ice conduit system and delivers the ice to the ice bagger system, and
- a diverter/shifter assembly that selectively facilitates ice delivery from the ice bin into one of the dispenser system and the ice bagger system.
8 more elements
A method for supplying ice, comprising:
- engaging an ice delivery controller system with a dispenser system and an ice transport system operatively linked with the dispenser system, the ice transport system, comprising:
- an ice bin having a supply of ice therein,
- an ice conduit system coupling the ice bin with the dispenser system,
- a vacuum pump, and
- a vacuum line system coupling the vacuum pump with the ice conduit system;
- and
- facilitating ice flow between the ice transport system and the dispenser system via the ice delivery controller system by activating the vacuum pump to create a pressure differential within the ice conduit system that draws ice from the ice bin into the ice conduit system and delivers the ice to the dispenser system.
4 more elements
A method for supplying ice, comprising:
- engaging an ice delivery controller system with an ice bagger system and an ice transport system operatively linked with the ice bagger system, the ice transport system, comprising:
- an ice bin having a supply of ice therein,
- an ice conduit system coupling the ice bin with the ice bagger system,
- a vacuum pump, and
- a vacuum line system coupling the vacuum pump with the ice conduit system;
- and
- facilitating ice flow between the ice transport system and the ice bagger system via the ice delivery controller system by activating of the vacuum pump to create a pressure differential within the ice conduit system that draws ice from the ice bin into the ice conduit system and delivers the ice to the ice bagger system.
4 more elements
A method for supplying ice, comprising:
- engaging an ice delivery controller system with a dispenser system, an ice bagger system and an ice transport system operatively linked with the dispenser system and the ice bagger system, the ice transport system, comprising:
- an ice bin having a supply of ice therein,
- a first ice conduit system coupling the ice bin with the dispenser system,
- a second ice conduit system coupling the ice bin with the ice bagger system,
- a vacuum pump,
- a first vacuum line system coupling the vacuum pump with the first ice conduit system, whereby activation of the vacuum pump creates a pressure differential within the first ice conduit system that draws ice from the ice bin into the first ice conduit system and delivers the ice to the dispenser system,
- a second vacuum line system coupling the vacuum pump with the second ice conduit system, whereby activation of the vacuum pump creates a pressure differential within the second ice conduit system that draws ice from the ice bin into the second ice conduit system and delivers the ice to the ice bagger system, and
- a diverter/shifter assembly;
- and
- facilitating ice flow from the ice transport system to the dispenser system and the ice bagger system via the ice delivery controller system by activating the vacuum pump and engaging the diverter/shifter assembly to selectively facilitate ice delivery from the ice bin into one of the dispenser system and the ice bagger system.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.