CA2193214A1 - A beverage cooling apparatus - Google Patents
A beverage cooling apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA2193214A1 CA2193214A1 CA002193214A CA2193214A CA2193214A1 CA 2193214 A1 CA2193214 A1 CA 2193214A1 CA 002193214 A CA002193214 A CA 002193214A CA 2193214 A CA2193214 A CA 2193214A CA 2193214 A1 CA2193214 A1 CA 2193214A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ice
- cold plate
- guide
- beverage
- inclined upper
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
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
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
- F25D31/002—Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
- B67D1/08—Details
- B67D1/0857—Cooling arrangements
-
- 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
- F25C5/24—Distributing ice for storing bins
Abstract
A beverage cooling system has an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein. The ice storage bin includes an opening (12) at a bottom portion thereof, and the mechanical agitator (11) is actuable to mechanically agitate ice in the ice bin and mechanically force ice through the opening (12). An ice guide (96) is disposed adjacent the opening in the ice storage bin. A cold plate (1) is disposed adjacent the ice guide. The cold plate (1) has an inclined upper surface thereof and includes at least one beverage line disposed underneath the upper surface. The ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto the inclined upper surface of the cold plate, wherein the ice is moved along the upper surface by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator (11).
Description
~ Wo96/09981 2!932~4 PCT~S9~10900 TTTT.T~ DF TUR 1~ V~ L~
p~ ", . o~ ~u~ INVE~IO~:
Pield of the Inventlon:
The present invention is directed to a b~vYl~y~
cooling apparatus wherein a cold plate is used to cool liguid bevyL~yys. The cold plate can be I inPd with an ice dispenser, to provide a dual purpose of cooling bevYl~yes and providing ice. In the food and beverage service industries, it is desirable to provide cold drinkable beveragea and ice in an efficient manner. The present invention iB directed to a system wherein beverages can be pre-cooled through a cold plate such that beverages can be served at a cooled temperature. Many major b~v~l~yY r-mlf~cturer6 have re ttP~ gerving temperatures for their beverages, and recommend that resellers of the product serve the b~vY~yYs within specific ranges. Additionally, carbonated beverages are known to hold their carbonation much longer when the beverage is served cold. In fountain type beverage systems, where ~rh~n~tP~ beverages are served from a bulk source, the beverages mu8t be cooled in the beverage lines to prevent excessive foaming. A~dditionally, ice added to pre-cooled beverage in a drinking cup does not melt excessively, thereby preventing nn~P~ir~hle dilution of the beverage. The present invention is directed to a beverage cooling apparatus which cools liquid beverages, such that the quality of the served beverage is as high as pn~;hlP. The invention is tntPn~od to meet major beverage manufacturers requirements for serving temperature and :, W O 96/09981 2 1 9 3 2 1 4 PC~rrUS9S/10900 ~
serving ~uality.
Description of the Prior Art A number of systems have been known wherein ice is placed on a cold plate to cool a liquid beverage. For example, United States Patent No. 4,300,359, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a cold plate system wherein ice in a hopper is transported through a conduit to an ice pan, to cool beverages flowing therethrough. The ~359 patent teaches the use of an agitator in a hopper to agitate ice in the hopper.
However, the '359 patent does not address problems caused by the known "bridging effect" which is where ice particles sit on top of the cold plate or other surface, and bridge together through melting. This bridging effect prevents fresh ice ~rom being placed directly in contact with the cold plate, and reduces the efficiency of the thermal transfer between ice and beverage in the cold plate.
An P~;t;~r~l problem which exists in the '359 patent is that the ~359 patent does not teach any type of system wherein the ice i~ guided and/or moved toward the inlet side of the beverage line, to maximize the effect of the thermal transfer.
United States Patent No. 752,810 disclosec a water coole~ wherein two ice blocks are manually placed upon cooling pipes 8 to cool water ied ~rom an elevated water bottle. However, the '810 patent is a fully manual system, and does not teach any sy~tem wherein ice is automatically fed or forced to the cooling pipe from a separate hopper, to effectively and ~ntinll~usly cool ~ WO96/09981 2 1 9 3 2 1 4 r~
beverage being fed therethrough.
rMM~V OF I~ L~
~n object of the present invention is to provide a beverage cooling sy6tem wherein maximum efficiency of thermal transfer between ice and b~v~L~y~ occura, to e~fectively pre-cool b~v~dy~s before being ~;~p~n~r~ into a cup or drinking vessel. Effectiveness and Pffi~i~nry of the invention is realized by nt;l;~;ng an agitator to perform three functions of agitating ice in an ice hopper to prevent the ice from bridging in the hopper, to disperse ice from an ice dispenser, and to force the ice through an opening, into an ice guide, and into a chute where force from the agitator moves the ice around an ;nrl;nrd upper surface of the cold plate, to improve thermal transfer, prevent bridging, and ensure a flow of ice over the surface of the cold plate. The ice bin or hopper, therefore, is provided with a dispersing port which is used to ~;~pPn~e ice directly into a drinking vessel, before the beverage is added thereto.
The objects of the present invention are realized by a beverage cooling system which comprises an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein, with the ice storage bin having an opening at a bottom portion thereof. The mechanical agitator is operable to mechanically agitate ice in the ice bin and mechanically force ice through the opening in the bottom portion ~ thereof. An ice guide is ~;~po~ adjacent the opening in the ice storage bin, and a cold plate is ~;~pn~r-d adjacent or ~ r~h the ice guide. The cold plate is supported on a support base such that the cold plate has an ;nrlinrd W096/0998~
upper surface, and includes at least one beverage line disposed nn~rn~ath the upper surface. The ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto the ;n~lin~d upper surface of the cold plate. The ice is moved along the upper surface of the cold plate by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator.
The invention can include a drain trough at a lower portion of the ;n~l;nP~ upper surface of the cold plate.
The drain trough is configured to drain water from the upper surface of the cold plate as the ice thereupon melts as a result of thermal transfer between the ice and the cold plate. The inclined upper surface of the cold plate can have four edges, with three of the four edges being surrounded by a raised perimeter edge. A fourth edge, which is a lower edge, is open to allow water to drain directly into the drain trough.
For more effective cooling of the beverage, the beverage line or lines are serp~nt;n~d th~uyh~uL the cold plate, nn~rn~t~ the inclined upper surface thereof. A
chute can be disposed nn~rn~t~ the ice guide. The chute encloses an ice path on the ; n~l; n~d upper surface of the cold plate, and prevents ice and water from 31iding off of the upper surface of the cold plate. The chute functions to guide the water, propelled by gravity~ from the ;n~l;n~ upper gurface of the cold plate toward the drain trough. The chute is configured to prevent ice from entering and clogging the drain trough.
The ice storage bin can include an ice di3pensing port at a ~i~p~n~;ng station thereof. A switch f"n~t;~nc to actuate the agitator to simultaneously dispense ice from the ice ~;~p~n~;ng port, agitate the ice in the bin, ~ WO96~9981 PCT~S9~l0900 21 932~4 and force ice through the opening in the bottom of the bin.
RRTrcr rl~i!.4('K I V~10 N OF T~F nr~ N~
The above and other objects and the attendant advantages of the present invention will become readily ~y~aLen~ by reference to the following detailed description when cnn~i~P~ed in conjunction with the A~ ying drawinga, wherein:
Figure l illustrates a sec~;nnAl view of a beveL~ye cooling apparatu8 according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view illustrating the elements of the beverage cooling apparatus;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cold plate of the claimed invention;
1.5 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the ice guide of the present inve~tion;
Figure 5 is a top view of the cold plate; and Figure 6 is a side view of the cold plate, taken from the lower edge thereof.
~FT~Tr-r!n ~-~-u~V~ OF TU~ r~ u~
Referring to Figure 3, cold plate l has an upper surface 2 thereof. Beverage inlet ports 3 are ~;~pnsPd toward an upper portion of the ;nnl;n~ upper surface, and beverage outlet ports 4 are configured such that the beveLaye lines move the beverage from the upper portion to ~ a lower portion of the ; n~l; n~ upper surface of the cold plate, before it reaches the outlet ports. Inlet ports 3 and outlet ports 4 are cnnnPctp~ in the cold plate through serpPn~;nPd beverage lines 3a, which are serppn~n~d WO96/09981 2l 9321 4 PCT~S95/10900 ~
nn~e~n~5th irrl;nPd lower surface 2. A plurality of beverage linea may be configured in various horizontal planes underneath the upper surface of the cold plate.
The beverage lines can be ~rC~rslllAtpd within the cold plate with a material which supports thermal transfer between the ice and the beverage. A preferred method of manufacturing the cold plate is one where the beverage lines are pre-formed from an appropriate tubing such as stainless steel, and the cold plate is cast from a molten thermally conductive material such as ~ minllm. The aluminum block cold plate which results rnh~nrr~ thermal transfer between ice placed on top of the cold plate and li~uid in the bev~L~ge lines. Cold plate 1 inrln~P~ drain trough 5 at a lower surface thereof. Edges 6 of cold plate 1 surround the inrl;nr~ upper surface, and provide a barrier or wall of appr~y;r-~ely lC mm in height therearound. The perimeter edges tPrm; n~e at protrusions 6a at a lower portion of the cold plate; these protrusions 6a leave an open lower edge of the ;nrl;nrd upper surface of the cold plate, having no raised perimeter th~ ~aLuulld;
this open edge allows water which melts on the surface of the cold plate to drain, by force of gravity, directly into drain trough 5. The cold plate is held in the ~pru~Liate ;nrl;n~d position by supporting base 7 (see Figure 2), which supports the cold plate in an incl;nrd position such that upper surface 2 of the cold plate is in~1;n~ The cold plate, the beverage lines, and the base form a cold plate~assembly. The outer surfaces of the cold plate, eYcept for the upper surface thereof, is desirably coated with a thermally inrul~;n~ material 17, to allow the cold plate to remain at a cold~temperature ~ W096/09981 2 l ~32 1 4 ~ 7 when ice is applied thereto.
As 8hown in Figure 2, chute 8 is configured to rest within the boundary delineated by perimeter edges 6, and is prevented from sliding down or off of the drain trough by protrusions 6a. Chute 8 inrl ll~A an opening 8a therein. Ice guide 9 is configured to correspond to opening 8a of chute 8, and ice supply bin lO is supported above the assembly formed by cold plate 1, chute 8, and ice guide 9. Ice guide 9 can also be fixedly attached to the bottom of ice storage bin 10. The ice storage bin 10 is supported by a suitable support structure, and can be part of an overall housing 16.
Ice storage bin lO includes agitator ll therein. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, agitator ll comprises shaft lla, ice ~g;t~t~r blades llb, and ice;i v, blades llc. Ice ~g; t~t~r blades llb act to agitate the ice within the bin, to prevent the ice from hr;~g;ng or freezing together. Ice . blades llc act to force the ice ~' -. d through an opening 12 provided in the bottom of ice storage bin 10. Shaft lla is connected to a motor or other suitable rotating means 13, which rotates shaft lla when actuated by switch 14. Ice storage bin 10 includes ice dispenser port 15, which is configured such that ice can be dispensed directly from the ice dispenser port into a drinking cup or vessel.
The beverage cooling system of the invention operates as follows: Ice storage bin lO is filled or partially ~ filled with ice particles of a desirable size from a suitable ice source (not shown). The ice can be provided by manual loading means, or an ~nt~ t;c ice maker or ice tL~~ L system feeding ice into the ice bin. As the ice WO96/09981 2 ~ 9 3 ~ 1 4 PCT~S95110900 ~
bin i8 filled, ice, through gravity, falls through opening 12 ln the bottom of the ice bin, and is guided by the ice guide 9 onto the ;nrl tn~ upper surface 2 of the cold plate. Gravity is sufficient to cause the ice to fall onto the cold plate until the space created by chute 8 and the upper surface of the cold plate is filled with ice.
Thermal transfer immediately takes place between the ice and the cold plate, thereby cooling beverage in the beverage lines. The ice on the cold plate, therefore, immediately begins to melt, and the water drains towards drain trough 5. When a user desires beverage, typically the user will first seek to partially fill a ~r;nk;ng cup with ice Ice is obtained by actuation of switch 14 to ~;~pPn~ ice from ice ~t;~p~n~lng port 15. When switch 14 is actuated, the motor 13 rotates agitator ll. Upon the rotation of agitator ll, agitator blades llb are rotated to agitate ice in the ice bin, and move ice particleg up toward ice dispensing port 15. Agitator blades llb are configured 8uch that upon a rotation of agitator ll, ice in the ice bin is agitated to be moved toward the center of the ice bin, thereby in the general direction of opening 12 Ice 1 v~ : blades llc are rotated to force ice vertically t- .~ ~ ~ d through opening 12 of ice bin lO, through opening 9a in ice guide 9, and into the area defined by the inner surface of chute 8 and the upper tncl ;n~ gurface of the cold plate. Ice guide 9 can be configured with a deflection~blade 9b to deflect the ice into a central or upper portion of upper surface 2 of cold plate l. Ice guide 9 and/or ~fl~t~r blade 9b is configured such that ice forced through opening 9a pushes on ice already on the cold plate, causing the ice to move, 21 ~32 1 ~
~ W096~998l ~ V~/ L, ~
and allowing the new, or ~fresh" ice to be directed to toward the portion of the cold plate where maximum thermal transfer takes place. ~nn~;nn~d rotation of the agitator forces more ice through ice guide 9 into chute 8, and causes ice on the upper surface of the cold plate to ~nnt;n~l~ to be moved by the force provided from the ice r lV~ n~ bladeg. When no more ice can move through opening 12 onto the upper surface of the cold plate, the agitator acts only to agitate the ice in ice bin 10 and move ice upward toward dispenser 15. Upon contact with the upper surface of cold plate 1, thermal transfer occurs between the ice and liquid beverage disposed in the bev~L~y~ lines between beverage inlet ports 3 and beverage outlet ports 4. The beverage in the b~veL~y~ lines remains cool, and the ice therefore melts and turns to water. Due to the incline of upper surface 2, the melted ice runs downward along the incline towards drain trough 5, through the open edge defined by protrusions 6a. Edges 6 act to prevent water from running over the sides of the cold plate, and to secure chute 8 in position. A lower edge 8b of chute 8, ccrr~pnn~;ng to the lower open edge of the cold plate, is configure~ to allow the water to seep nn~Prn~h the edge into drain trough 5. Lower edge 8b is also designed such that ice is prevented from ~nt~r;ng and clogging the drain trough. Drain trough 5 is connected to a drainage tube or passage (not shown) to remove melted ice (in liquid form) from the system. When switch 14 iE not being actuated, agitator 11 is not rotated, and there is no agitation or ,v~ ~ of ice either in ice storage bin 10, ice guide 9, or along upper surface 2 of cold plate 1. When a user desires beverage, W096/09981 2 1 ~ 3 2 1 4 PCT~S9~/lO900 ~
a drinking cup or vessel is placed at ice dispenser port 15, and switch 14 is actuated to dispense ice therefrom.
Agitator 11 is rotated by motor 13 to agitate the ice in ice storage bin 10, to force ice downward through opening 12 and ice guide 9 towards the upper surface 2 of cold plate 1, and the ice on upper surface 2 of cold plate 1 is also forced to move by the force of the new ice being pushed downward by agitator 11. This force causes the "old" ice on upper surface 2 to be moved, thereby breaking up any bridged ice particles which may have resulted in any bridging effect which has occurred between the partially melted ice particles thereupon. The ice guide guides the new ice toward the upper and/or central portions of the cold plate, thereby ensuring that the fresh ice:is available to cool the warmest beverage, which is located towards inlet ports 3. The inlet ports and the outlet ports, in ~;n~t1~n with the gerpentined beverage lines, are configured such that maximum efficiency of thermal transfer occurs between the ice on the cold plate and the beverage in the beverage lines therewithin.
Chute 8, as shown in Figure 2, is configured such that a greater amount of ice is held toward the upper portion of the ;n~l ;n~ upper surface, to provide greater cooling capacity near the inlet side of the beverage lines. The lower portion of the chute, therefore, is smaller to ensure that only the smaller, partially melted ice particles move downward toward the bottom portion of the ;n~l ;n~ surface of the cold plate, where less thermal transfer is required. A8 the ice turns to water,= the water runs into drain trough 5, and away from the system through the drai ge passage.
~ WO96/09981 PCT~S9~10900 21 93~ 1 ~
It is readily apparent that the above-described invention has the advantage of wide ~- ~ial utility.
It is understood that the specific form of the invention hereinabove described i8 ; ntPn~Pd to be representative only, as certain ---'if;r~t;~n~ within the scope of these t~rh;ng~ will be apparent to those skill in the art.
Accordingly, in detPrm;n;rg the full scope of the invention, reference should only be made to the following claims.
p~ ", . o~ ~u~ INVE~IO~:
Pield of the Inventlon:
The present invention is directed to a b~vYl~y~
cooling apparatus wherein a cold plate is used to cool liguid bevyL~yys. The cold plate can be I inPd with an ice dispenser, to provide a dual purpose of cooling bevYl~yes and providing ice. In the food and beverage service industries, it is desirable to provide cold drinkable beveragea and ice in an efficient manner. The present invention iB directed to a system wherein beverages can be pre-cooled through a cold plate such that beverages can be served at a cooled temperature. Many major b~v~l~yY r-mlf~cturer6 have re ttP~ gerving temperatures for their beverages, and recommend that resellers of the product serve the b~vY~yYs within specific ranges. Additionally, carbonated beverages are known to hold their carbonation much longer when the beverage is served cold. In fountain type beverage systems, where ~rh~n~tP~ beverages are served from a bulk source, the beverages mu8t be cooled in the beverage lines to prevent excessive foaming. A~dditionally, ice added to pre-cooled beverage in a drinking cup does not melt excessively, thereby preventing nn~P~ir~hle dilution of the beverage. The present invention is directed to a beverage cooling apparatus which cools liquid beverages, such that the quality of the served beverage is as high as pn~;hlP. The invention is tntPn~od to meet major beverage manufacturers requirements for serving temperature and :, W O 96/09981 2 1 9 3 2 1 4 PC~rrUS9S/10900 ~
serving ~uality.
Description of the Prior Art A number of systems have been known wherein ice is placed on a cold plate to cool a liquid beverage. For example, United States Patent No. 4,300,359, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a cold plate system wherein ice in a hopper is transported through a conduit to an ice pan, to cool beverages flowing therethrough. The ~359 patent teaches the use of an agitator in a hopper to agitate ice in the hopper.
However, the '359 patent does not address problems caused by the known "bridging effect" which is where ice particles sit on top of the cold plate or other surface, and bridge together through melting. This bridging effect prevents fresh ice ~rom being placed directly in contact with the cold plate, and reduces the efficiency of the thermal transfer between ice and beverage in the cold plate.
An P~;t;~r~l problem which exists in the '359 patent is that the ~359 patent does not teach any type of system wherein the ice i~ guided and/or moved toward the inlet side of the beverage line, to maximize the effect of the thermal transfer.
United States Patent No. 752,810 disclosec a water coole~ wherein two ice blocks are manually placed upon cooling pipes 8 to cool water ied ~rom an elevated water bottle. However, the '810 patent is a fully manual system, and does not teach any sy~tem wherein ice is automatically fed or forced to the cooling pipe from a separate hopper, to effectively and ~ntinll~usly cool ~ WO96/09981 2 1 9 3 2 1 4 r~
beverage being fed therethrough.
rMM~V OF I~ L~
~n object of the present invention is to provide a beverage cooling sy6tem wherein maximum efficiency of thermal transfer between ice and b~v~L~y~ occura, to e~fectively pre-cool b~v~dy~s before being ~;~p~n~r~ into a cup or drinking vessel. Effectiveness and Pffi~i~nry of the invention is realized by nt;l;~;ng an agitator to perform three functions of agitating ice in an ice hopper to prevent the ice from bridging in the hopper, to disperse ice from an ice dispenser, and to force the ice through an opening, into an ice guide, and into a chute where force from the agitator moves the ice around an ;nrl;nrd upper surface of the cold plate, to improve thermal transfer, prevent bridging, and ensure a flow of ice over the surface of the cold plate. The ice bin or hopper, therefore, is provided with a dispersing port which is used to ~;~pPn~e ice directly into a drinking vessel, before the beverage is added thereto.
The objects of the present invention are realized by a beverage cooling system which comprises an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein, with the ice storage bin having an opening at a bottom portion thereof. The mechanical agitator is operable to mechanically agitate ice in the ice bin and mechanically force ice through the opening in the bottom portion ~ thereof. An ice guide is ~;~po~ adjacent the opening in the ice storage bin, and a cold plate is ~;~pn~r-d adjacent or ~ r~h the ice guide. The cold plate is supported on a support base such that the cold plate has an ;nrlinrd W096/0998~
upper surface, and includes at least one beverage line disposed nn~rn~ath the upper surface. The ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto the ;n~lin~d upper surface of the cold plate. The ice is moved along the upper surface of the cold plate by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator.
The invention can include a drain trough at a lower portion of the ;n~l;nP~ upper surface of the cold plate.
The drain trough is configured to drain water from the upper surface of the cold plate as the ice thereupon melts as a result of thermal transfer between the ice and the cold plate. The inclined upper surface of the cold plate can have four edges, with three of the four edges being surrounded by a raised perimeter edge. A fourth edge, which is a lower edge, is open to allow water to drain directly into the drain trough.
For more effective cooling of the beverage, the beverage line or lines are serp~nt;n~d th~uyh~uL the cold plate, nn~rn~t~ the inclined upper surface thereof. A
chute can be disposed nn~rn~t~ the ice guide. The chute encloses an ice path on the ; n~l; n~d upper surface of the cold plate, and prevents ice and water from 31iding off of the upper surface of the cold plate. The chute functions to guide the water, propelled by gravity~ from the ;n~l;n~ upper gurface of the cold plate toward the drain trough. The chute is configured to prevent ice from entering and clogging the drain trough.
The ice storage bin can include an ice di3pensing port at a ~i~p~n~;ng station thereof. A switch f"n~t;~nc to actuate the agitator to simultaneously dispense ice from the ice ~;~p~n~;ng port, agitate the ice in the bin, ~ WO96~9981 PCT~S9~l0900 21 932~4 and force ice through the opening in the bottom of the bin.
RRTrcr rl~i!.4('K I V~10 N OF T~F nr~ N~
The above and other objects and the attendant advantages of the present invention will become readily ~y~aLen~ by reference to the following detailed description when cnn~i~P~ed in conjunction with the A~ ying drawinga, wherein:
Figure l illustrates a sec~;nnAl view of a beveL~ye cooling apparatu8 according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view illustrating the elements of the beverage cooling apparatus;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cold plate of the claimed invention;
1.5 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the ice guide of the present inve~tion;
Figure 5 is a top view of the cold plate; and Figure 6 is a side view of the cold plate, taken from the lower edge thereof.
~FT~Tr-r!n ~-~-u~V~ OF TU~ r~ u~
Referring to Figure 3, cold plate l has an upper surface 2 thereof. Beverage inlet ports 3 are ~;~pnsPd toward an upper portion of the ;nnl;n~ upper surface, and beverage outlet ports 4 are configured such that the beveLaye lines move the beverage from the upper portion to ~ a lower portion of the ; n~l; n~ upper surface of the cold plate, before it reaches the outlet ports. Inlet ports 3 and outlet ports 4 are cnnnPctp~ in the cold plate through serpPn~;nPd beverage lines 3a, which are serppn~n~d WO96/09981 2l 9321 4 PCT~S95/10900 ~
nn~e~n~5th irrl;nPd lower surface 2. A plurality of beverage linea may be configured in various horizontal planes underneath the upper surface of the cold plate.
The beverage lines can be ~rC~rslllAtpd within the cold plate with a material which supports thermal transfer between the ice and the beverage. A preferred method of manufacturing the cold plate is one where the beverage lines are pre-formed from an appropriate tubing such as stainless steel, and the cold plate is cast from a molten thermally conductive material such as ~ minllm. The aluminum block cold plate which results rnh~nrr~ thermal transfer between ice placed on top of the cold plate and li~uid in the bev~L~ge lines. Cold plate 1 inrln~P~ drain trough 5 at a lower surface thereof. Edges 6 of cold plate 1 surround the inrl;nr~ upper surface, and provide a barrier or wall of appr~y;r-~ely lC mm in height therearound. The perimeter edges tPrm; n~e at protrusions 6a at a lower portion of the cold plate; these protrusions 6a leave an open lower edge of the ;nrl;nrd upper surface of the cold plate, having no raised perimeter th~ ~aLuulld;
this open edge allows water which melts on the surface of the cold plate to drain, by force of gravity, directly into drain trough 5. The cold plate is held in the ~pru~Liate ;nrl;n~d position by supporting base 7 (see Figure 2), which supports the cold plate in an incl;nrd position such that upper surface 2 of the cold plate is in~1;n~ The cold plate, the beverage lines, and the base form a cold plate~assembly. The outer surfaces of the cold plate, eYcept for the upper surface thereof, is desirably coated with a thermally inrul~;n~ material 17, to allow the cold plate to remain at a cold~temperature ~ W096/09981 2 l ~32 1 4 ~ 7 when ice is applied thereto.
As 8hown in Figure 2, chute 8 is configured to rest within the boundary delineated by perimeter edges 6, and is prevented from sliding down or off of the drain trough by protrusions 6a. Chute 8 inrl ll~A an opening 8a therein. Ice guide 9 is configured to correspond to opening 8a of chute 8, and ice supply bin lO is supported above the assembly formed by cold plate 1, chute 8, and ice guide 9. Ice guide 9 can also be fixedly attached to the bottom of ice storage bin 10. The ice storage bin 10 is supported by a suitable support structure, and can be part of an overall housing 16.
Ice storage bin lO includes agitator ll therein. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, agitator ll comprises shaft lla, ice ~g;t~t~r blades llb, and ice;i v, blades llc. Ice ~g; t~t~r blades llb act to agitate the ice within the bin, to prevent the ice from hr;~g;ng or freezing together. Ice . blades llc act to force the ice ~' -. d through an opening 12 provided in the bottom of ice storage bin 10. Shaft lla is connected to a motor or other suitable rotating means 13, which rotates shaft lla when actuated by switch 14. Ice storage bin 10 includes ice dispenser port 15, which is configured such that ice can be dispensed directly from the ice dispenser port into a drinking cup or vessel.
The beverage cooling system of the invention operates as follows: Ice storage bin lO is filled or partially ~ filled with ice particles of a desirable size from a suitable ice source (not shown). The ice can be provided by manual loading means, or an ~nt~ t;c ice maker or ice tL~~ L system feeding ice into the ice bin. As the ice WO96/09981 2 ~ 9 3 ~ 1 4 PCT~S95110900 ~
bin i8 filled, ice, through gravity, falls through opening 12 ln the bottom of the ice bin, and is guided by the ice guide 9 onto the ;nrl tn~ upper surface 2 of the cold plate. Gravity is sufficient to cause the ice to fall onto the cold plate until the space created by chute 8 and the upper surface of the cold plate is filled with ice.
Thermal transfer immediately takes place between the ice and the cold plate, thereby cooling beverage in the beverage lines. The ice on the cold plate, therefore, immediately begins to melt, and the water drains towards drain trough 5. When a user desires beverage, typically the user will first seek to partially fill a ~r;nk;ng cup with ice Ice is obtained by actuation of switch 14 to ~;~pPn~ ice from ice ~t;~p~n~lng port 15. When switch 14 is actuated, the motor 13 rotates agitator ll. Upon the rotation of agitator ll, agitator blades llb are rotated to agitate ice in the ice bin, and move ice particleg up toward ice dispensing port 15. Agitator blades llb are configured 8uch that upon a rotation of agitator ll, ice in the ice bin is agitated to be moved toward the center of the ice bin, thereby in the general direction of opening 12 Ice 1 v~ : blades llc are rotated to force ice vertically t- .~ ~ ~ d through opening 12 of ice bin lO, through opening 9a in ice guide 9, and into the area defined by the inner surface of chute 8 and the upper tncl ;n~ gurface of the cold plate. Ice guide 9 can be configured with a deflection~blade 9b to deflect the ice into a central or upper portion of upper surface 2 of cold plate l. Ice guide 9 and/or ~fl~t~r blade 9b is configured such that ice forced through opening 9a pushes on ice already on the cold plate, causing the ice to move, 21 ~32 1 ~
~ W096~998l ~ V~/ L, ~
and allowing the new, or ~fresh" ice to be directed to toward the portion of the cold plate where maximum thermal transfer takes place. ~nn~;nn~d rotation of the agitator forces more ice through ice guide 9 into chute 8, and causes ice on the upper surface of the cold plate to ~nnt;n~l~ to be moved by the force provided from the ice r lV~ n~ bladeg. When no more ice can move through opening 12 onto the upper surface of the cold plate, the agitator acts only to agitate the ice in ice bin 10 and move ice upward toward dispenser 15. Upon contact with the upper surface of cold plate 1, thermal transfer occurs between the ice and liquid beverage disposed in the bev~L~y~ lines between beverage inlet ports 3 and beverage outlet ports 4. The beverage in the b~veL~y~ lines remains cool, and the ice therefore melts and turns to water. Due to the incline of upper surface 2, the melted ice runs downward along the incline towards drain trough 5, through the open edge defined by protrusions 6a. Edges 6 act to prevent water from running over the sides of the cold plate, and to secure chute 8 in position. A lower edge 8b of chute 8, ccrr~pnn~;ng to the lower open edge of the cold plate, is configure~ to allow the water to seep nn~Prn~h the edge into drain trough 5. Lower edge 8b is also designed such that ice is prevented from ~nt~r;ng and clogging the drain trough. Drain trough 5 is connected to a drainage tube or passage (not shown) to remove melted ice (in liquid form) from the system. When switch 14 iE not being actuated, agitator 11 is not rotated, and there is no agitation or ,v~ ~ of ice either in ice storage bin 10, ice guide 9, or along upper surface 2 of cold plate 1. When a user desires beverage, W096/09981 2 1 ~ 3 2 1 4 PCT~S9~/lO900 ~
a drinking cup or vessel is placed at ice dispenser port 15, and switch 14 is actuated to dispense ice therefrom.
Agitator 11 is rotated by motor 13 to agitate the ice in ice storage bin 10, to force ice downward through opening 12 and ice guide 9 towards the upper surface 2 of cold plate 1, and the ice on upper surface 2 of cold plate 1 is also forced to move by the force of the new ice being pushed downward by agitator 11. This force causes the "old" ice on upper surface 2 to be moved, thereby breaking up any bridged ice particles which may have resulted in any bridging effect which has occurred between the partially melted ice particles thereupon. The ice guide guides the new ice toward the upper and/or central portions of the cold plate, thereby ensuring that the fresh ice:is available to cool the warmest beverage, which is located towards inlet ports 3. The inlet ports and the outlet ports, in ~;n~t1~n with the gerpentined beverage lines, are configured such that maximum efficiency of thermal transfer occurs between the ice on the cold plate and the beverage in the beverage lines therewithin.
Chute 8, as shown in Figure 2, is configured such that a greater amount of ice is held toward the upper portion of the ;n~l ;n~ upper surface, to provide greater cooling capacity near the inlet side of the beverage lines. The lower portion of the chute, therefore, is smaller to ensure that only the smaller, partially melted ice particles move downward toward the bottom portion of the ;n~l ;n~ surface of the cold plate, where less thermal transfer is required. A8 the ice turns to water,= the water runs into drain trough 5, and away from the system through the drai ge passage.
~ WO96/09981 PCT~S9~10900 21 93~ 1 ~
It is readily apparent that the above-described invention has the advantage of wide ~- ~ial utility.
It is understood that the specific form of the invention hereinabove described i8 ; ntPn~Pd to be representative only, as certain ---'if;r~t;~n~ within the scope of these t~rh;ng~ will be apparent to those skill in the art.
Accordingly, in detPrm;n;rg the full scope of the invention, reference should only be made to the following claims.
Claims (25)
1. A beverage cooling system, comprising:
an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein, said ice storage bin having an opening at a bottom portion thereof, said mechanical agitator being actuable to mechanically agitate ice in said ice bin and mechanically direct and force ice downward through said opening;
an ice guide disposed adjacent said opening in said ice storage bin;
a cold plate assembly disposed under said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed underneath said inclined upper surface;
wherein said ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto said inclined upper surface of said cold plate, wherein said ice is moved on the upper surface by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator.
an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein, said ice storage bin having an opening at a bottom portion thereof, said mechanical agitator being actuable to mechanically agitate ice in said ice bin and mechanically direct and force ice downward through said opening;
an ice guide disposed adjacent said opening in said ice storage bin;
a cold plate assembly disposed under said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed underneath said inclined upper surface;
wherein said ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto said inclined upper surface of said cold plate, wherein said ice is moved on the upper surface by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator.
2. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cold plate further comprises a drain trough at a lower portion of said inclined upper surface, said drain trough configured to drain water from said upper surface as the ice thereupon melts as a result of thermal transfer between the ice and the cold plate.
3. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 2, wherein said inclined upper surface has four edges thereof, with three of the four edges being surrounded by a raised perimeter edge, and wherein a fourth edge is open to allow water to drain from said inclined upper surface into said drain trough.
4. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one beverage line is serpentined throughout said cold plate, underneath the inclined upper surface thereof.
5. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 4, wherein a plurality of serpentined beverage lines are provided in said cold plate.
6. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 5, wherein said cold plate comprises a cast block of thermally conductive material, and wherein said plurality of serpentined beverage lines are encapsulated therein.
7. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one beverage line is serpentined throughout said cold plate, underneath the inclined upper surface thereof.
8. A beverage cooling system, comprising:
an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein, said ice storage bin having an opening at a bottom portion thereof, said mechanical agitator being actuable to mechanically agitate ice in said ice bin and mechanically direct and force ice through said opening:
an ice guide disposed adjacent said opening in said ice storage bin;
a cold plate assembly disposed under said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed underneath said inclined upper surface; and a chute disposed underneath said ice guide, said chute enclosing an ice path on the inclined upper surface of the cold plate, said chute preventing ice and water from sliding off said upper surface of the cold plate, and guiding the water, propelled by gravity toward a drain trough located at a lower portion of said inclined upper surface, said chute being configured to prevent ice from entering the drain trough;
wherein said ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto said inclined upper surface of said cold plate, wherein said ice is moved on the upper surface by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator.
an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein, said ice storage bin having an opening at a bottom portion thereof, said mechanical agitator being actuable to mechanically agitate ice in said ice bin and mechanically direct and force ice through said opening:
an ice guide disposed adjacent said opening in said ice storage bin;
a cold plate assembly disposed under said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed underneath said inclined upper surface; and a chute disposed underneath said ice guide, said chute enclosing an ice path on the inclined upper surface of the cold plate, said chute preventing ice and water from sliding off said upper surface of the cold plate, and guiding the water, propelled by gravity toward a drain trough located at a lower portion of said inclined upper surface, said chute being configured to prevent ice from entering the drain trough;
wherein said ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto said inclined upper surface of said cold plate, wherein said ice is moved on the upper surface by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator.
9. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said agitator is connected to a rotating means for rotating said agitator, said rotating means being selectively actuated and deactuated by a switch.
10. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 9, wherein said ice storage bin includes an ice dispensing port at a dispensing station thereupon, wherein said switch functions to actuate the agitator to simultaneously dispense ice from said ice dispensing port and force ice through said opening in said bottom portion.
11. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 8, wherein said ice guide is disposed directly underneath said opening and directly above said chute, said chute having an opening therein corresponding to the opening in the ice storage bin and the ice guide.
12. A beverage cooling system, comprising:
an ice source for providing ice for cooling liquid beverages;
ice guide means adjacent a bottom surface of said ice source for guiding ice downward from said ice source;
ice driving means for forcibly moving ice from said ice source toward and forcing said ice downward through said ice guide means;
a cold plate assembly disposed adjacent said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof and being configured such that said ice guide deflects and guides said ice onto said inclined upper surface, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed therein;
wherein ice supplied from said ice source cools liquid beverages in said at least one beverage line through thermal transfer occurring between the ice and the liquid beverage in the beverage line, and wherein said ice is moved on said inclined upper surface by force from said ice driving means, and wherein water from melting ice is moved by gravity toward a bottom portion of said inclined upper surface.
an ice source for providing ice for cooling liquid beverages;
ice guide means adjacent a bottom surface of said ice source for guiding ice downward from said ice source;
ice driving means for forcibly moving ice from said ice source toward and forcing said ice downward through said ice guide means;
a cold plate assembly disposed adjacent said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof and being configured such that said ice guide deflects and guides said ice onto said inclined upper surface, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed therein;
wherein ice supplied from said ice source cools liquid beverages in said at least one beverage line through thermal transfer occurring between the ice and the liquid beverage in the beverage line, and wherein said ice is moved on said inclined upper surface by force from said ice driving means, and wherein water from melting ice is moved by gravity toward a bottom portion of said inclined upper surface.
13. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 12, wherein said cold plate further comprises a drain trough at the lower portion of the inclined upper surface, said drain trough being configured to drain the water from the upper surface as the ice thereupon melts as a result of the thermal transfer.
14. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a chute disposed underneath said ice guide and adjacent the inclined upper surface of the cold plate, said chute preventing ice and water from sliding off of said cold plate, and guiding said water toward said drain trough.
15. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 14, wherein said ice source comprises an ice storage bin, and said ice driving means comprises a mechanical agitator rotatably disposed in said ice storage bin.
16. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 15, wherein said ice is fed to said cold plate from an opening in a central portion of a bottom of said ice storage bin, and said ice guide and said chute cooperate to deflect and feed said ice onto said inclined upper surface of said cold plate.
17. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 9, wherein said agitator is configured to force ice through the ice guide onto said inclined upper surface of the cold plate.
18. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 12, wherein said ice driving means is connected to a rotating means for rotating said ice driving means, wherein said agitator rotates to distribute the ice in the ice storage bin, and ensure a smooth flow of ice in the ice guide.
19. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 12, wherein said ice source includes an ice dispensing port at a dispensing station thereupon, and wherein a switch is provided to selectively actuate and deactuate the ice driving means, and wherein said ice driving means is configured to simultaneously dispense ice from said ice dispensing port and force ice from said ice source to the inclined upper surface of the cold plate.
20. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 14, wherein said ice guide is disposed directly underneath said ice source and directly above said chute, said chute having an opening therein corresponding to an opening in the ice guide.
21. A beverage cooling system, comprising:
an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein, said ice storage bin having an opening at a bottom portion thereof, said mechanical agitator being actuable to mechanically agitate ice in said ice bin and mechanically direct and force ice through said opening:
an ice guide disposed adjacent said opening in said ice storage bin;
a cold plate assembly disposed under said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed underneath said inclined upper surface;
wherein said ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto said inclined upper surface of said cold plate, wherein said ice is moved on the upper surface by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator and;
wherein said ice guide is disposed to deflect and guide said ice from said ice storage bin away from a lower edge of the inclined upper surface of said cold plate.
an ice storage bin having a mechanical agitator disposed therein, said ice storage bin having an opening at a bottom portion thereof, said mechanical agitator being actuable to mechanically agitate ice in said ice bin and mechanically direct and force ice through said opening:
an ice guide disposed adjacent said opening in said ice storage bin;
a cold plate assembly disposed under said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed underneath said inclined upper surface;
wherein said ice guide is positioned to deflect and guide ice onto said inclined upper surface of said cold plate, wherein said ice is moved on the upper surface by mechanical force provided by an actuation of the agitator and;
wherein said ice guide is disposed to deflect and guide said ice from said ice storage bin away from a lower edge of the inclined upper surface of said cold plate.
22. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 21, wherein said ice guide includes a deflection means to deflect the ice away from a lower edge of the inclined upper surface of the cold plate.
23. A beverage cooling system, comprising:
an ice source for providing ice for cooling liquid beverages;
ice guide means adjacent said ice source for guiding ice from said ice source;
ice driving means for forcibly moving ice from said ice source toward and through said ice guide means;
a cold plate assembly disposed adjacent said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof and being configured such that said ice guides deflects and guides said ice onto said inclined upper surface, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed therein;
wherein ice supplied for said ice source cools liquid beverages in said at least one beverage line through thermal transfer occurring between the ice and the liquid beverage in the beverage line and wherein said ice is moved on said inclined upper surface by force from said ice driving means, and wherein water from melting ice is moved by gravity toward a bottom portion of said inclined upper surface and wherein said ice guide is disposed to deflect and guide said ice toward an inlet side of said at least one beverage line of said cold plate.
an ice source for providing ice for cooling liquid beverages;
ice guide means adjacent said ice source for guiding ice from said ice source;
ice driving means for forcibly moving ice from said ice source toward and through said ice guide means;
a cold plate assembly disposed adjacent said ice guide, said cold plate assembly including a cold plate having an inclined upper surface thereof and being configured such that said ice guides deflects and guides said ice onto said inclined upper surface, said cold plate also including at least one beverage line disposed therein;
wherein ice supplied for said ice source cools liquid beverages in said at least one beverage line through thermal transfer occurring between the ice and the liquid beverage in the beverage line and wherein said ice is moved on said inclined upper surface by force from said ice driving means, and wherein water from melting ice is moved by gravity toward a bottom portion of said inclined upper surface and wherein said ice guide is disposed to deflect and guide said ice toward an inlet side of said at least one beverage line of said cold plate.
24. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 8, wherein said chute is configured such that a larger amount of ice is held toward an upper portion of the inclined upper surface of the cold plate than is held toward a lower portion of the upper surface of the cold plate.
25. A beverage cooling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cold plate assembly is provided with thermal insulation means for preventing undesirable thermal transfer between said cold plate and ambient air, said thermal insulation means covering a portion of said cold plate and a portion of said cold plate assembly.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/312,789 | 1994-09-27 | ||
| US08/312,789 US5560221A (en) | 1994-09-27 | 1994-09-27 | Beverage cooling apparatus with ice agitating dispenser |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2193214A1 true CA2193214A1 (en) | 1996-04-04 |
Family
ID=23213012
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002193214A Abandoned CA2193214A1 (en) | 1994-09-27 | 1995-08-30 | A beverage cooling apparatus |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5560221A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0783455A4 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH10506080A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2193214A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX9702260A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1996009981A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5910164A (en) * | 1996-12-12 | 1999-06-08 | Hoshizaki America, Inc. | Ice cube dispenser for compressed flaked ice cubes |
| US6224297B1 (en) * | 1998-05-14 | 2001-05-01 | Tmo Enterprises Limited | Method and apparatus for use in conveying material |
| US6299026B1 (en) | 2000-03-28 | 2001-10-09 | The Coca-Cola Company | Flexibly oriented ice dispenser |
| US6218241B1 (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2001-04-17 | United Microelectronics Corp. | Fabrication method for a compact DRAM cell |
| US6880358B2 (en) * | 2002-03-16 | 2005-04-19 | Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc. | Ice and ice/beverage dispensers |
| US6758047B1 (en) * | 2003-04-09 | 2004-07-06 | Robert R. Giles | Portable ice storage container having an ice dispenser device and method therefor |
| US7305847B2 (en) * | 2004-04-03 | 2007-12-11 | Wolski Peter F | Cold carbonation system for beverage dispenser with remote tower |
| KR20080065418A (en) * | 2007-01-09 | 2008-07-14 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | An ice bank for refrigerator |
| JP5356700B2 (en) * | 2008-03-13 | 2013-12-04 | サッポロビール株式会社 | Ice cooling server |
| JP5348762B2 (en) * | 2009-05-12 | 2013-11-20 | ホシザキ電機株式会社 | Dispenser |
| EP3401621B1 (en) * | 2015-12-31 | 2023-06-21 | Hisense Ronshen (Guangdong) Refrigerator Co., Ltd. | Ice crushing device and refrigerator |
| US10287115B2 (en) * | 2016-03-16 | 2019-05-14 | The Coca-Cola Company | Ice dispenser with reduced ice bridging therein |
| US11525615B2 (en) * | 2017-12-08 | 2022-12-13 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess |
| US10837690B2 (en) * | 2017-12-08 | 2020-11-17 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess |
| US11293680B2 (en) | 2019-06-14 | 2022-04-05 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator with multiple ice movers |
| US20230366604A1 (en) * | 2022-05-12 | 2023-11-16 | Ice House America, Llc | Combination bagger |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US13679A (en) * | 1855-10-16 | Improved projectile for ordnance | ||
| US752810A (en) * | 1904-02-23 | Water-cooler | ||
| US745889A (en) * | 1903-06-17 | 1903-12-01 | C H Calvert | Water cooler and filter. |
| US1237050A (en) * | 1916-11-15 | 1917-08-14 | George W Kafer | Ice-support and water-cooler. |
| US2096481A (en) * | 1936-03-20 | 1937-10-19 | Coolerator Company | Refrigerator |
| US2677249A (en) * | 1951-09-18 | 1954-05-04 | Sabra E Mason | Apparatus for forming ice cubes |
| US3406871A (en) * | 1965-06-24 | 1968-10-22 | King Seeley Thermos Co | Flaked ice dispenser |
| US3517860A (en) * | 1968-07-15 | 1970-06-30 | Remcor Products Co | Ice dispenser having polygonal walls |
| US3739842A (en) * | 1971-05-12 | 1973-06-19 | Remcor Prod Co | Water cooler heat exchanger |
| IT948378B (en) * | 1972-01-31 | 1973-05-30 | Wiesner A | MOBILE BER FOR THE CONSERVATION, REFRIGERATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ALCOHOLIC AND NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES |
| US4227377A (en) * | 1978-07-26 | 1980-10-14 | Remcor Products Company | Control system for ice dispenser and method |
| US4215803A (en) * | 1978-07-26 | 1980-08-05 | Remcor Products Company | Ice hopper having a plurality of shelves and a ramp |
| US4300359A (en) * | 1979-08-09 | 1981-11-17 | Remcor Products Company | Cold plate system for ice dispenser |
| US4346824A (en) * | 1980-03-20 | 1982-08-31 | Remcor Products Company | Ice dispensing mechanism |
| US4285212A (en) * | 1980-06-02 | 1981-08-25 | General Electric Company | Ice dispenser storage assembly |
| US4429543A (en) * | 1982-08-13 | 1984-02-07 | Fischer Harry C | Ice maker |
| US4513892A (en) * | 1983-04-15 | 1985-04-30 | Remcor Products Company | Flaked ice dispenser |
| JPS59196496A (en) * | 1983-04-22 | 1984-11-07 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Vacuum vessel for fusion device |
| US4641763A (en) * | 1984-05-18 | 1987-02-10 | Servend International | Ice and beverage dispensing apparatus and method with dual purpose liner |
| US4969583A (en) * | 1988-04-25 | 1990-11-13 | Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Storage bin-type ice dispenser |
| US5104007A (en) * | 1990-03-29 | 1992-04-14 | Scotsman Group, Inc. | Ice and beverage dispensing apparatus |
| US5165255A (en) * | 1991-07-29 | 1992-11-24 | Mile High Equipment Company | Intermediate staging ice bin for ice and beverage dispensing machines |
| US5249710A (en) * | 1992-07-02 | 1993-10-05 | Imi Cornelius Inc. | Beverage dispenser having cold plate with evaporative cooling |
-
1994
- 1994-09-27 US US08/312,789 patent/US5560221A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1995
- 1995-08-30 JP JP8511758A patent/JPH10506080A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1995-08-30 EP EP95930979A patent/EP0783455A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1995-08-30 WO PCT/US1995/010900 patent/WO1996009981A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1995-08-30 CA CA002193214A patent/CA2193214A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-08-30 MX MX9702260A patent/MX9702260A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0783455A4 (en) | 2000-01-19 |
| JPH10506080A (en) | 1998-06-16 |
| MX9702260A (en) | 1997-06-28 |
| WO1996009981A1 (en) | 1996-04-04 |
| US5560221A (en) | 1996-10-01 |
| EP0783455A1 (en) | 1997-07-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |