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US 7,681,408 B2Granted
Automated ice vending machine and method of vending ice
AssigneePaper Making Controls Service, Inc.
InventorsRobert Michael Hobson, James M Clark, Warren Christopher Johnston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is an automated ice vending machine for delivering ice to consumers. The machine of the present invention includes an insulated enclosure, an ice manufacturing apparatus, a cooling unit, an ice inventory storage bin, an ice agitating device, an incline ice transport device, and a bagger assembly. The present invention also includes a method of vending ice to a consumer.
Claims15
An automated ice vending machine comprising:
- an ice manufacturing apparatus;
- a chilled insulated enclosure equipped with a cooling unit housing
- an ice inventory holding bin having a top opening for receiving ice pieces from the ice manufacturing apparatus, a smaller opening at the bottom for depositing ice pieces in a substantially downward direction into an incline ice delivery device, and an auger for stirring ice pieces in the ice inventory holding bin;
- and
- an incline ice delivery device for receiving ice pieces through an opening in the bottom of the ice inventory holding bin and for delivering ice pieces in a generally upward direction from beneath the ice inventory holding bin to a container such as a bag.
2 more elements
A method for providing a bag of ice to a consumer comprising the steps of:
- manufacturing ice pieces;
- delivering manufactured ice pieces through an opening in the top of an ice inventory holding bin located within a chilled insulated enclosure, wherein the ice inventory holding bin is substantially cone shaped with an opening in the top for receiving ice pieces from an ice manufacturing apparatus, a smaller opening at the bottom for depositing ice pieces in a substantially downward direction into an incline ice delivery device, and an auger for stirring ice pieces in the ice inventory holding bin;
- transporting ice in a substantially downward direction through an opening in the bottom of the ice inventory holding bin to an incline ice transport device;
- delivering ice via the incline ice transport device in a generally upward direction from beneath the ice inventory holding bin to a bag, wherein such bag has been automatically opened by bagger assembly.
1 more element
An automated ice vending machine comprising:
- an ice manufacturing apparatus;
- a chilled insulated enclosure equipped with a cooling unit housing
- a substantially cone-shaped ice inventory holding bin with an opening at the top for receiving ice pieces from the ice manufacturing apparatus and a smaller opening at the bottom for depositing ice pieces in a substantially downward direction into an incline ice delivery device;
- and
- an incline ice delivery device for receiving ice pieces through an opening in the bottom of the ice inventory holding bin and for delivering ice pieces in a generally upward direction from beneath the ice inventory holding bin to a container such as a bag;
- an ice agitating device in the form of an auger for stirring ice pieces in the ice inventory holding bin, wherein blades of the auger are tapered from the top of the ice inventory holding bin to the bottom of the ice inventory holding bin;
- and
- an ice level detection sensor for detecting ice at a predetermined level near the top of the ice inventory holding bin;
- and
- a bagger assembly.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.