Ice bagging system and method
OwnerDaniel D. LeBlanc, Mark C. Metzgerinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This apparatus relates to ice-bagging apparatuses with an ice maker and a hopper for receiving ice from the ice maker. The apparatus utilizes rotating drums designed for delivering ice into a bag. The apparatus also possess bagging and drop mechanism which fills and mechanically seals each bag of ice and drops it into a freezer for storage. The apparatus has an electronic operating system that has been greatly simplified using infrared technology and/or laser technology. The operating system is connected with the internet and a central processing center to allow for complete managing and monitoring of the system.
Claims19
An apparatus for bagging ice comprising:
- an ice cuber for making ice;
- a hopper in communication with the ice cuber for receiving ice from the ice cuber;
- a bag feed assembly, wherein said bag feed assembly provides at least one bag for receiving ice;
- a rotating member operatively disposed between said hopper and said bag feed assembly, wherein said rotating member has a first aperture and is disposed within a stationary member having a second aperture, and wherein said rotating member is movable between a first position for receiving ice from said hopper and a second position for providing ice to said at least one bag, and wherein the first aperture is aligned with the second aperture when said rotating member is in said second position;
- a freezer for receiving said bag;
- a plurality of sensors attached to said ice cuber, hopper, rotating member, bag feed assembly, freezer, or combinations thereof, wherein said plurality of sensors sense at least one characteristic of said ice cuber, hopper, rotating member, bag feed assembly, freezer, or combinations thereof,
- wherein said at least one characteristic is selected from a group consisting of:
- temperature, item location, motor status, motor operation, sequence of operation, amount of ice made, ice level, information on the bag, hopper status, bag position, heat sealing, and combinations thereof;
- and
- a processing unit in communication with said plurality of sensors, wherein said plurality of sensors transmit said at least one characteristic to the processing unit, and wherein said processing unit processes or transmits said at least one sensed characteristic for analysis.
A method for bagging ice comprising:
- receiving ice from an ice cuber into a hopper;
- receiving ice from the hopper into a rotating member, wherein said rotating member has a first aperture and is disposed within a stationary member having a second aperture, and wherein said rotating member is moveable between a first position for receiving ice from said hopper and a second position for providing ice to a bag in a bag feed assembly;
- moving the rotating member to the second position to provide ice to the bag;
- receiving said bags in a freezer;
- sensing at least one characteristic of said ice cuber, hopper, rotating member, bag feed assembly, freezer, or combinations thereof, wherein
- said at least one characteristic is selected from a group consisting of:
- temperature, item location, motor status, motor operation, sequence of operation, amount of ice made, ice level, information on the bag, hopper status, bag position, heat sealing, rotational positioning and combinations thereof;
- and
- processing said at least one characteristic to a processing unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.