Flexibly oriented ice dispenser

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6431414
  • Patent Number
    6,431,414
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, March 22, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 13, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A beverage dispenser system having a beverage tower with a first side and a second side. The beverage dispenser system also has an ice elevator and an ice hopper connected to the ice elevator. The ice hopper has a first side exit and a second side exit such that the ice elevator may be positioned on either side of the beverage tower and connected to either side exit of the ice hopper.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




The present invention relates generally to a beverage dispenser and more particularly relates to a beverage dispenser with an ice hopper and an ice elevator that can accommodate multiple ice-dispensing orientations.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Countertop beverage dispensers typically use an ice receptacle of some sort for both chilling the beverage fluids flowing therein and providing ice cubes for use in the beverage. For example, an ice hopper containing the ice cubes generally is positioned adjacent to a cold plate or other type of heat transport mechanism so as to chill the concentrate and the diluent flowing therethrough. Because the ice hopper generally is placed beneath the countertop, an elevator mechanism may be used to transport the ice cubes from the ice hopper up to an ice dispenser positioned above the countertop. This elevator mechanism generally uses an ice auger positioned within an elevator sleeve. As the auger rotates within the sleeve, the ice cubes are carried from the bin to the ice dispenser.




The ice hopper generally is pre-configured before installation for use with either a left-sided ice dispenser or a right-side dispenser. By pre-configured, we mean that the ice hopper is intended for use with an ice elevator positioned on one side of the beverage dispenser or the other. As a result, the ice hopper generally is angled toward one side or the other and generally has an agitator therein that tends to force the ice cubes towards that side. As such, a left-handed ice hopper generally cannot be used in right-handed orientation and vice versa. This set up is inconvenient in that the ice hopper manufacture must maintain a supply of left and right handed ice hoppers. Likewise, the installer must order the correct orientation before installation. Further, any change in the design or flow of the ice dispenser or the beverage system as a whole generally cannot be accommodated with the existing ice hopper.




Similarly, existing ice elevators generally are fixed into position at the time of installation. Access to or removal of a single component within the ice elevator may be difficult. As such, cleaning or repair of the ice elevator also may be difficult or time consuming.




What is needed, therefore, is a beverage system with a flexibly oriented ice hopper. The ice hopper should be able to accommodate either left or right handed orientations without undue modifications or down time. Further, the beverage dispenser as a whole, including the ice elevator, should be easy to access, easy to clean, and easy to repair. The beverage dispenser should accomplish these goals in a cost effective and easy to operate manner.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention thus provides a beverage dispenser system having a beverage tower with a first side and a second side. The beverage dispenser system also has an ice elevator and an ice hopper connected to the ice elevator. The ice hopper has a first side exit and a second side exit such that the ice elevator may be positioned on either side of the beverage tower and connected to either side exit of the ice hopper.




Specific embodiments of the present invention include a sub-base such that the ice hopper is position below the sub-base and the beverage tower is positioned above the sub-base. The ice hopper may include an agitator with a number of agitator arms. The ice hopper may have a single bin or a number of bins. Each bin may have an agitator therein. The ice hopper may be made out of a rigid plastic.




The ice elevator may include an ice auger and an ice tower. The ice tower may be made out of a transparent material. The ice tower may include a lower auger housing made out of a PVC. The ice tower also may include an auger sleeve. The auger sleeve may have an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, and an air space positioned therebetween. The auger sleeve may be made out of a thermoplastic. The ice tower also may include an outer housing surrounding the auger sleeve. A second air space may be positioned between the outer housing and the auger sleeve. The outer sleeve may be made out of a rigid plastic. The outer housing also may have a sliding auger sleeve so as to permit access to the auger sleeve. A conduit may connect the ice hopper and the ice tower.




The ice elevator also may include an ice dispenser position on the ice tower. The ice dispenser may have an ice shoot and an ice dispenser lever so as to activate the ice elevator. The ice dispenser may be made out of a rigid plastic or a transparent material. An ice dispenser sleeve may connect the ice elevator and the ice dispenser. The ice dispenser may have a number of bosses thereon that mesh with a number of slots on the ice dispenser sleeve so as to secure the ice dispenser.




The present invention also provides an ice hopper for use with a beverage dispenser system having a beverage tower and an ice elevator. The ice hopper may have an agitator, a first side exit, and a second side exit, such that the ice elevator may be connected to the ice hopper by either the first side exit or the second side exit.




The present invention also provides an ice elevator for use with a beverage dispenser system. The ice elevator may have an ice auger, an ice tower surrounding the ice auger, and an ice dispenser positioned on top of the ice tower. The ice tower may have an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The ice tower may have an air space positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. The ice tower also may include an outer housing surrounding the outer sleeve. A second air space may be positioned between the outer sleeve and the outer housing. The outer housing may have a sliding auger sleeve so as to permit access to the outer sleeve. The ice dispenser also may have an ice shoot and an ice dispenser lever so as to activate the ice elevator. The ice tower and the ice dispenser may be made out of a transparent material. An ice dispenser sleeve may connect the ice tower and the ice dispenser. The ice dispenser may have a number of bosses thereon that mesh with a number of slots on the ice dispenser sleeve so as to secure the ice dispenser.




Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the beverage dispenser system of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the beverage dispenser system of the present invention showing the ice hopper, the ice elevator, and the cold plate.





FIG. 3

is a top perspective view showing the sub-base, the beverage tower, the ice hopper with the agitator, and the ice elevator.





FIG. 4

is a side cross-sectional view of the ice hopper, the agitator, and the cold plate.





FIG. 5

is a side cross-sectional view of the ice hopper, the ice hopper side exit, and the risers.





FIG. 6

is a side cross-sectional view of the ice elevator.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of the ice dispenser sleeve and the ice dispenser.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views,

FIGS. 1-6

show a beverage dispenser system


100


of the present invention. The beverage dispenser system


100


may include an ice hopper


110


. The ice hopper


110


may be a conventional tub-shaped structure. The ice hopper


110


may have a first bin


120


and a second bin


130


as shown, or a single bin may be used. In fact, any number of bins


120


,


130


may be used. The hopper


110


may have a number of apertures


140


positioned therein. Specifically, the ice hopper


110


preferably has a first side exit


150


and a second side exit


160


. The ice hopper


110


also may have a drainage aperture (not shown) positioned therein. The ice hopper


110


may be made from conventional materials, including a rigid plastic such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), stainless steel, or any other substantially noncorrosive material. It is important to note that all of the materials used herein that may touch the ice cubes must be made out of food grade material as is well known to those skilled in the art. Further, the ice hopper


110


may be insulated in a conventional fashion.




Positioned within the ice hopper


110


may be an agitator


170


. Generally described, the agitator


170


is a rotating device with a plurality of agitator arms


180


. The agitator


170


rotates within the ice hopper


110


so as to prevent the ice therein from solidifying together and also to move the ice towards and into the first-side exit


150


or the second-side exit


160


. One agitator


170


may be positioned within the first bin


120


and one agitator


170


may be positioned within the second bin


130


. The agitator


170


in bin


120


and the agitator


170


in bin


130


may rotate in opposite directions.




The agitator


170


may be operated by an agitator motor


190


. The agitator motor


190


may be positioned within or adjacent to the ice hopper


110


. The agitator motor


190


may be a conventional AC motor. For example, an 11.5 volt permanent split capacitor AC motor may be used. The size and speed of the agitator motor


190


will depend upon the size and volume of the beverage dispenser


100


as a whole. The agitator motor


190


may operate the agitator


170


continuously, at predetermined intervals, or based upon other types of controls.




The ice hopper


110


may be mounted below the counter-top level. The ice hopper


110


may be used in connection with a beverage tower


200


. The beverage tower


200


may be of conventional design. The beverage tower


200


mixes the incoming concentrate and diluent streams so as to provide a beverage to the customer as is well known in the art. The ice hopper


110


may be positioned beneath the counter or a sub-base


210


with the beverage tower


200


positioned on top of the sub-base


210


. The sub-base


210


may have one or more lids


220


such that ice cubes may be poured into the ice hopper


110


. Alternatively, a conventional ice-making machine (not shown) may be positioned adjacent to the ice hopper


110


. The ice-making machine may freeze a predetermined amount of ice in a predetermined configuration as is well known in the art so as to keep the ice hopper


110


full. The sub-base


210


also may include a drip tray


215


and other elements generally used with the beverage dispenser system


100


.




The beverage dispenser system


100


generally also includes a cold plate


230


positioned adjacent to and in thermal communication with the ice hopper


110


. The cold plate


230


may be of conventional design. The cold plate


230


generally includes a plurality of fluid sleeves


240


and water conduits


250


therein so as to chill the fluids used within the beverage tower


200


. These sleeves


240


and the conduits


250


may accommodate either concentrate, such as beverage syrup, or diluent, such as carbonated water, plain water, and the like. The sleeves


240


and the water conduits


250


are connected to the beverage tower


200


via a plurality of fluid risers


260


. The concentrate and the diluent are then mixed within the beverage tower


200


and dispensed through a spout


270


. The beverage dispenser system


100


may be activated by a lever, a button, or by other types of conventional means.




As is best shown in

FIGS. 2 and 6

, an ice elevator


300


may be positioned on either side of the ice hopper


110


and the beverage tower


200


. The ice elevator


300


generally may include an ice auger


310


for transporting the ice cubes. The ice auger


310


may be of a conventional screw-type design. The size of the auger


310


will depend upon the size and volume of the beverage dispenser


100


as a whole. A preferred ice auger


310


may be similar to that described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/263,135, entitled “Mechanical Auger For Ice Handling Applications”. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/263,135 is incorporated herein by reference. The auger


310


preferably has a lower first end


320


and an upper second end


330


.




The ice auger


310


may be operated by an auger motor


340


. The auger motor


340


may be positioned within or adjacent to the ice hopper


110


. The auger motor


340


drives the auger


310


via its lower first end


320


. The auger motor


340


may be a conventional electrical motor. For example, the auger motor


340


may be a conventional 25-volt DC motor with speed control. The size and speed of the auger motor


340


will depend upon the size and volume of the beverage dispenser


100


as a whole.




The auger


310


may be positioned within an ice tower


345


. The ice tower


345


preferably is a multi-element structure, but the ice tower


345


also may be molded as a unitary element. The ice tower


345


preferably includes a lower auger housing


350


. The lower auger housing


350


is fixedly attached to a base


360


. The lower auger housing


350


is a substantially tubular-shaped element with a main auger tube


370


and a connecting supply tube


380


. The lower first end


320


of the ice auger


310


is mounted within the main auger tube


370


. Ice cubes from the ice hopper


110


flow through the supply tube


380


to the ice auger


310


within the main auger tube


370


. The lower auger housing


350


is preferably made from a rigid plastic such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Other possible materials include stainless steel or other types of substantially non-corrosive materials.




Positioned on top of the lower auger housing


350


is an auger sleeve


390


. The auger sleeve


390


surrounds the ice auger


310


and has a diameter slightly larger than the ice auger


310


. The auger sleeve


390


preferably is a two piece structure with an inner sleeve


400


and an outer sleeve


410


. Positioned between the sleeves


400


,


410


preferably is an air space


420


. The air space


420


provides insulation to the auger sleeve


390


. Alternatively, the auger sleeve


390


may be a single injected element with the air space


420


formed therein. The auger sleeve


390


preferably is made from a thermoplastic such as polypropylene or similar materials.




Positioned about the auger sleeve


390


may be an outer housing


430


. The outer housing


430


is separated from the auger sleeve


390


by a second air space


440


. The second air space


440


also provides insulation to the auger sleeve


390


. The outer housing


430


may be made from a rigid plastic such as PVC, ABS, or similar materials. Condensation formed by the ice within the auger sleeve


390


should form about the outer housing


430


and flow towards the drip tray


215


.




Positioned at the bottom of the auger sleeve


390


is a sliding auger sleeve


450


. The sliding auger sleeve


450


may be raised about the outer housing


430


so as to provide access to the auger sleeve


390


and the lower auger housing


350


. The auger sleeve


390


may have a cutout portion positioned adjacent to the sliding auger sleeve


450


so as to permit direct access to the auger


310


. The sliding auger sleeve


450


may be made from a thermoplastic such as polypropylene or similar materials.




The ice tower


345


is connected to one of the side exits


150


,


160


of the ice hopper


110


. As is shown in

FIGS. 2 and 6

, the side exits


150


,


160


include a spigot


460


. The spigot


460


of the ice hopper


110


is connected to the lower auger housing


350


of the tower


345


via a conduit


470


. The conduit


470


is a tubular shaped element that may be made from a rigid plastic such as polycarbonate, ABS, or similar materials. A preferred polycarbonate resin is manufactured by General Electric Corporation under the trademark “Lexan”. The conduit


470


may be attached by a setscrew (not shown) or similar attachment means such that the conduit


470


may be removed for cleaning or for providing access to the lower auger housing


350


.




The top end of the ice tower


345


may include an ice dispenser


480


. The ice dispenser


480


may be of conventional design and may include an ice chute


490


. The ice chute


490


may be in the form of a downward facing spout such that ice cubes progressing through the ice elevator


300


may be dispensed into a consumer's cup. The ice dispenser


480


may be made of a rigid plastic such as Lexan or similar materials. Further, the ice dispenser


480


and the elements that make up the ice tower


345


, particularly the auger sleeve


390


and the outer housing


430


, may be made out of a colored or a clear material. The use of a clear material allows a consumer to see the ice as it is elevated through the ice elevator


300


.




As is shown in

FIG. 7

, the ice dispenser


480


may be attached to the ice tower


345


via an ice dispenser sleeve


500


. The ice dispenser sleeve


500


may be a substantially circular element. The ice dispenser sleeve


500


may be fixedly attached to the top of the tower


345


. An O-ring


502


may be used therebetween. The ice dispenser sleeve


500


may have a number of slots


505


formed therein. These slots


505


mesh with a number of bosses or prongs


510


positioned on the ice dispenser


480


. The ice dispenser


480


may be placed on the ice tower


345


and then rotated into place within the ice dispenser sleeve


500


via the slots


505


and the prongs


510


. Conversely, the ice dispenser


480


also may be easily removed by rotating the ice dispenser


480


in the opposite direction. The ice dispenser sleeve


500


may be made from any substantial rigid thermoplastic or similar types of materials.




Attached to the ice dispenser


480


may be an ice dispenser lever


520


. The ice dispenser lever


520


may be in communication with the auger motor


340


. When a consumer places a cup against the ice dispenser lever


520


, the lever


520


activates the auger motor


340


such that the ice cubes are brought up through the ice elevator


300


and dispensed through the ice dispenser


480


.




In use, ice cubes are added to the ice hopper


110


via the lid


220


. The user generally opens the lid


220


and pours the ice cubes into the hopper


110


. Alternatively, an ice making machine may continuously make ice so as to keep the ice hopper


110


filled. Once ice is present in the hopper


110


, the agitator


170


continuously sweeps the ice cubes in the hopper


110


so as to prevent the ice cubes from solidifying. The agitator


170


also ensures that a steady supply of ice cubes is present adjacent to either the first side exit


150


or the second side exit


160


. The ice cubes then proceed through one of the exits


150


,


160


and fall out of the spigot


460


into the conduit


470


and the lower auger housing


350


. When a consumer places a cup against the ice dispenser lever


520


, the agitator motor


340


is activated and the ice cubes are carried up the ice auger


310


within the auger sleeve


390


. The ice cubes are transported from the lower first end


320


of the auger


310


to the upper second end


330


. Once the ice cubes reach the upper second end


330


, the ice cubes pass through the ice dispenser


480


and down the ice chute


490


into the consumer's cup. The ice auger motor


340


is deactivated once the consumer removes the cup from the ice dispenser lever


520


.




Any ice that is remaining within the ice tower


345


should remain chilled. The auger sleeve


390


uses the air space


420


for insulation. Likewise, the second air space


440


is positioned between the auger sleeve


390


and the outer housing


430


. Further, any condensation that may form about the tower


345


should run down the exterior of the outer housing


430


and into the drip tray


215


positioned within the sub-base


210


. By allowing the condensation to form on the outside of the outer housing


430


, the condensation gives the ice elevator


300


a cold look that may be attractive to consumers.




The modular nature of the beverage dispenser system


100


of the present invention thus provides significant improvements in the art. For example, the beverage dispenser system


100


is more versatile in installation and retrofitting than known devices. Because the ice hopper


110


includes a first side exit


150


and a second side exit


160


, the ice hopper


110


may be used with either left handed beverage systems or right handed beverage systems, i.e., the ice elevator


300


may be positioned on the left side of the beverage tower


200


or on the right side. Once a decision is made as to which side of the beverage tower


200


the ice elevator


300


should be positioned, the lower auger housing


350


of the ice tower


345


is fixedly attached to the base


360


. The ice tower


345


is then attached to the desired exit


150


,


160


of the ice hopper


110


via the spigot


460


and the conduit


470


. The unused side exit


160


,


170


is then capped by conventional means.




The entire beverage dispenser system


100


therefore can be interchangeable between right handed or left handed orientations, other than the sub-base


210


, the risers


260


, and the hopper lid


220


. Although these elements generally are designed for one orientation or the other because of price constrains, even these elements may be designed in an interchangeable fashion. As such the beverage system


100


as a whole may be interchangeable between a right handed or a left handed ice elevator


300


.




The beverage dispenser system


100


of the present invention also allows the ice elevator


300


to be retrofitted from one side of the beverage tower


200


to the other. In order to retrofit the unit as shown herein, the sub-base


210


, the risers


260


, and the lid


220


must be swapped out for an alternative sided element. The ice elevator


300


, however, merely needs to be attached to the opposite exit


150


,


160


of the ice hopper


110


. Further, both side exits


150


,


160


may be used at the same time if attached to two ice elevators


300


. The agitators


170


may be used with any orientation of the ice elevators


300


.




The beverage system


100


of the present invention also provides an ice elevator


300


that is substantially easier to clean than known devices. For example, the ice dispenser


480


is easily removed from the tower


345


via the ice dispenser sleeve


500


. The user simply rotates the ice dispenser


480


within the ice dispenser sleeve


500


to remove it. Likewise, the outer housing


430


is easily removable to provide access to the auger sleeve


390


. Similarly, the sliding auger sleeve


450


may slide up so as to permit access to the auger sleeve


390


, the auger


310


, and the lower auger housing


350


. The conduit


470


is also removable. The lower auger housing


350


therefore may be accessed and cleaned via the main auger tube


370


or the supply tube


380


. This ease of access also allows for quick replacement of components if any of the elements of the ice elevator


300


should be damaged.




It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and that numerous changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. An ice elevator for use with a beverage dispenser system, said ice elevator comprising:an ice auger; an ice tower surrounding said ice auger; said ice tower comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve; said ice tower comprising an outer housing surrounding said outer sleeve; said outer housing comprising a sliding auger sleeve so as to permit access to said outer sleeve; and an ice dispenser positioned on top of said ice tower.
  • 2. The ice elevator of claim 1, wherein said ice tower comprises an air space positioned between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve.
  • 3. The ice elevator of claim 1, wherein said ice tower comprises a second air space positioned between said outer sleeve and said outer housing.
  • 4. The ice elevator of claim 1, wherein said ice tower comprises a transparent material.
  • 5. The ice elevator of claim 1, wherein said ice dispenser comprises an ice chute.
  • 6. The ice elevator of claim 1, wherein said ice dispenser comprises an ice dispenser lever so as to activate said ice elevator.
  • 7. The ice elevator of claim 1, wherein said ice dispenser comprises a transparent material.
  • 8. The ice elevator of claim 1, wherein said ice tower comprises an ice dispenser sleeve connecting said ice dispenser and said ice tower.
  • 9. The ice elevator of claim 8, wherein said ice dispenser sleeve comprises a plurality of slots and wherein said ice dispenser comprises a plurality of bosses that mesh with said plurality of slots so as to secure said ice dispenser.
  • 10. An ice elevator for providing ice for a beverage dispenser system, said ice elevator comprising:an ice auger; an ice tower surrounding said ice auger; an ice dispenser positioned on top of said ice tower; and an ice dispenser sleeve fixedly attached to either of said ice tower or said ice dispenser such that said ice dispenser sleeve may rotatably attach to an other of said ice tower or said ice dispenser.
  • 11. The ice elevator of claim 10, wherein said ice dispenser comprises a plurality of bosses thereon.
  • 12. The ice elevator of claim 11, wherein said ice dispenser sleeve is fixedly attached to said ice tower and wherein said ice dispenser sleeve comprises a plurality of slots for engagement with said plurality of bosses of said ice dispenser.
  • 13. The ice elevator of claim 10, wherein said ice tower comprises an inner sleeve and a detachable outer sleeve.
  • 14. The ice elevator of claim 13, wherein said ice tower comprises an air space positioned between said inner sleeve and said detachable outer sleeve.
  • 15. The ice elevator of claim 13, wherein said ice tower comprises a detachable outer housing surrounding said detachable outer sleeve.
  • 16. The ice elevator of claim 15, wherein said ice tower comprises a second air space positioned between said detachable outer sleeve and said detachable outer housing.
Parent Case Info

This is a divisional application of Ser. No. 09/536,593, filed Mar. 28, 2000, now allowed.

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