1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present document relate generally to ice bagging assemblies, and more specifically to ice bagging assemblies configured to provide a plurality of sealed ice bags to consumers.
2. Background Art
Ice bagging assemblies are commonly used to fill a plurality of bags with ice for retail sales, commercial sales, and/or other uses by other consumers. Ice bagging assemblies are useful in that, among other things, they may produce and store bags of ice in a manner that is conveniently accessible to users.
Aspects of this document relate to ice bagging and merchandising assemblies. In one aspect, an ice bagging assembly may comprise an ice bagging apparatus configured to generate a plurality of ice cubes and seal them in a plurality of ice bags, an ice bag merchandiser in mechanical cooperation with the ice bagging apparatus and configured to receive the plurality of ice bags from the ice bagging apparatus and maintain the ice within the ice bags in a frozen state, a passageway large enough to pass the ice bags and connecting an interior space of the ice bagging apparatus with an interior space of the ice bag merchandiser, and at least one ice bag diverter proximate the passageway and positionable between a first position and a second position and having first and second opposing cradles, each of the first and second cradles configured to alternately receive at least first and second ice bags of the plurality of ice bags from the ice bagging apparatus via the passageway and drop the first and second ice bags to respective first and second regions of the ice bag merchandiser. In particular implementations, the first cradle dropping the first ice bag into the ice bag merchandiser positions the second cradle to receive the second ice bag and the second cradle dropping the second ice bag into the ice bag merchandiser positions the first cradle to receive a third ice bag of the plurality of ice bags.
Particular implementations may also include one or more of the following. At least a portion of the at least one ice bag diverter may be located in the ice bag merchandiser. The at least one ice bag diverter may be configured to pivot between the first position and the second position. The at least one ice bag diverter may be configured such that when it receives the first ice bag in the first cradle, the ice bag diverter automatically pivots to the second position. The at least one ice bag diverter may be configured to automatically pivot to the second position under force of gravity. The at least one ice bag diverter may further be configured such that when it receives the second ice bag in the second cradle, the ice bag diverter automatically pivots to the first position under force of gravity. The at least one ice bag diverter may further be configured such that when it receives the second ice bag in the second cradle, the ice bag diverter automatically pivots to the first position. entations, the at least one ice bag diverter may comprise at least two ice bag diverters, each independently positionable between respective first and second positions. A dividing wall may be included between the at least two ice bag diverters. A second of the at least two ice bag diverters may be configured to drop one or more ice bags of the plurality of ice bags to respective third and fourth regions of the ice bag merchandiser.
In another aspect, a method of forming a plurality of ice bag stacks in an ice bag merchandiser may comprise: producing a plurality of ice bags in an ice bagging apparatus, passing each of the plurality of ice bags from the ice bagging apparatus to an ice bag distributor via a passageway, receiving a first ice bag of the plurality of ice bags in a first cradle of an ice bag diverter in a first position, pivoting the ice bag diverter from the first position to a second position, and dropping the first ice bag to a first region of the ice bag merchandiser, and receiving a second ice bag of the plurality of ice bags in a second cradle of the ice bag diverter in the second position, pivoting the ice bag diverter back to the first position, and dropping the second ice bag to a second region of the ice bag merchandiser.
Particular implementations may also include one or more of the following. Pivoting the ice bag diverter from the first position to the second position may comprise automatically pivoting to the second position. Automatically pivoting to the second position may comprise automatically pivoting the ice bag diverter to the second position under the weight of the first ice bag. Pivoting the ice bag diverter back to the first position may comprise automatically pivoting back to the first position under the weight of the second ice bag. Pivoting the ice bag diverter back to the first position may comprise automatically pivoting back to the first position. Methods of forming a plurality of ice bag stacks may further comprise: receiving a third ice bag of the plurality of ice bags in a first cradle of a second ice bag diverter in a first position, pivoting the second ice bag diverter from the first position to a second position, and dropping the third ice bag to a third region of the ice bag merchandiser. Particular implementations of a method of forming a plurality of ice bag stacks may also further comprise receiving a fourth ice bag of the plurality of ice bags in a second cradle of the second ice bag diverter in the second position, pivoting the second ice bag diverter back to the first position, and dropping the fourth ice bag to a fourth region of the ice bag merchandiser.
In yet another aspect, an ice bagging assembly may comprise an ice bag merchandiser in mechanical cooperation with the ice bagging apparatus and configured to receive the plurality of ice bags from the ice bagging apparatus and maintain the ice within the ice bags in a frozen state, a passageway large enough to pass the ice bags and connecting an interior space of the ice bagging apparatus with an interior space of the ice bag merchandiser, and an ice bag distributor proximate the passageway, the ice bag distributor automatically positionable between a first position and a second position. In particular implementations, the ice bag distributor may be positionable to receive a first ice bag of the plurality of ice bags and drop the first ice bag to a first region of the ice bag merchandiser when the ice bag distributor is in a first position, and may be positionable to receive a second ice bag of the plurality of ice bags and drop the second ice bag to a second region of the ice bag merchandiser when the ice bag distributor is in a second position.
Particular implementations may also include one or more of the following. The ice bag distributor may be configured to automatically pivot between the first position and the second position. The ice bag distributor may be automatically positionable between the first position and the second position via one or more latitudinal tracks and one or more longitudinal tracks.
In still yet another aspect, a method of forming a plurality of ice bag stacks in an ice bag merchandiser may comprise: producing a plurality of ice bags in an ice bagging apparatus, passing each of the plurality of ice bags from the ice bagging apparatus to an ice bag distributor, receiving a first ice bag of the plurality of ice bags in an ice bag diverter in a first position, automatically positioning the ice bag diverter from the first position to a second position, and dropping the first ice bag to a first region of the ice bag merchandiser, and automatically positioning the ice bag diverter back to the first position from the second position, receiving a second ice bag of the plurality of ice bags in the ice bag diverter in one of the first position and the second position, and dropping the second ice bag to a second region of the ice bag merchandiser.
Particular implementations may also include one or more of the following. Automatically positioning the ice bag diverter from the first position to the second position may comprise automatically pivoting the ice bag diverter to the second position under the weight of the first ice bag, and automatically positioning the ice bag diverter back to the first position from the second position may comprise automatically pivoting the ice bag diverter to the second position under the weight of the first ice bag. Automatically positioning the ice bag diverter from the first position to the second position may comprise automatically moving the ice bag diverter via one or more latitudinal tracks and one or more longitudinal tracks, and automatically positioning the ice bag diverter back to the first position from the second position may comprise automatically moving the ice bag diverter via one or more latitudinal tracks and one or more longitudinal tracks.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS.
An ice bagging assembly and associated methods of use will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:
This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the intended operation of an ice bagging assembly and/or assembly procedures for an ice bagging assembly will become apparent from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular ice bagging apparatuses, ice bag merchandisers, passageways, interior spaces, ice bag diverters, first positions, second positions, first and second opposing cradles, regions, stops, frames, motors, ice bags, stacks, pivots, mechanical limiters, longitudinal tracks, latitudinal tracks, doors, and other components are disclosed, such particular ice bagging apparatuses, ice bag merchandisers, passageways, interior spaces, ice bag diverters, first positions, second positions, first and second opposing cradles, first and second regions, third and fourth regions, pivots, mechanical limiters, longitudinal tracks, latitudinal tracks, doors, and implementing components, may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such ice bagging assemblies, consistent with the intended operation of an ice bagging assembly.
There is a variety of ice bagging assembly implementations disclosed herein.
A passageway 8 (
Referring now specifically to the first particular implementation of ice bagging assembly 2 illustrated in
As seen from a comparison of
For the particular implementation illustrated in
In particular,
Therefore, it will be understood that for this particular implementation, when a first opposing cradle 18 drops a first ice bag 27 into an ice bag merchandiser 6, the second opposing cradle 20 moves into a second position (
One or more sensors may be provided in order to stop production of a plurality of ice bags 28 in the ice bagging apparatus 4 should the ice bag merchandiser become full and/or to issue an alert if the ice bagging apparatus 4 runs out of one or more ice bagging supplies (and/or otherwise becomes unable to make and/or bag ice). It will be understood that the plurality of ice bags 28, including the first ice bag 27, the second ice bag 29, the third ice bag, and/or any other ice bags disclosed herein, may be substantially identical in contents, size, shape, weight, etc., and that individual reference numbers have been used for the various ice bags described herein to aid in understanding the operation of the various implementations of ice bagging assemblies described herein.
As a plurality of ice bags 28 (which may include one or more first ice bags 27 and/or one or more second ice bags 29) accumulates in an ice merchandiser 6, one or more stacks 30 may be formed. While one or more stacks 30 of ice bags 28 are shown in the various figures described herein as neatly organized, discrete columns of ice bags 28, it will be understood that as one or more of the plurality of ice bags 28 (including one or more first ice bags 27 and/or one or more second ice bags 29) drops into an ice merchandiser 6, the one or more ice bags 28 may settle into their respective regions (i.e. first region 26 and second region 32 and/or any other regions disclosed herein) in a manner that does not necessarily form neat stacks 30 (
Turning now to
In addition to the foregoing aspects and features, an ice bagging assembly 34 further comprises at least two ice bag diverters (a first ice bag diverter 36 and a second ice bag diverter 40, in this particular implementation). The first ice bag diverter 36 and a second ice bag diverter 40, are each independently positionable between respective first and second positions (in
Referring specifically to
Turning now to
In addition to the foregoing aspects and features, an ice bagging assembly 44 further comprises an ice bag diverter 48 that is automatically positionable between a first position and a second position. The ice bag diverter 48 of this particular implementation is automatically positionable via one or more longitudinal tracks 56 and/or one or more latitudinal tracks 60. In particular, the ice bag diverter 48 is positionable to receive a first ice bag 27 (
In some particular implementations, an ice bag diverter 48 may receive a first ice bag 27 when the ice bag diverter 48 is in the first position (
A comparison of
Still referring to
It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the concepts of providing a plurality of sealed ice bags to consumers, as disclosed herein, is not limited to the specific implementations shown and described herein. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the components included in any particular implementation of an ice bagging assembly may be formed of many different types of materials and/or combinations of materials that can readily be formed into shaped objects and that are consistent with the intended operation of an ice bagging assembly. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the components included in a particular implementation of an ice bagging assembly may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations that can readily be formed into shaped objects and that are consistent with the intended operation of an ice bagging assembly. For example, the components may be formed of: metals and/or other like materials; alloys and/or other like materials; polymers and/or other like materials; plastics, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; and/or any combination of the foregoing.
Furthermore, the ice bagging apparatuses, ice bag merchandisers, passageways, interior spaces, ice bag diverters, first positions, second positions, first and second opposing cradles, regions, stops, frames, motors, ice bags, stacks, pivots, mechanical limiters, longitudinal tracks, latitudinal tracks, doors, and other components are disclosed, such particular ice bagging apparatuses, ice bag merchandisers, passageways, interior spaces, ice bag diverters, first positions, second positions, first and second opposing cradles, first and second regions, third and fourth regions, pivots, mechanical limiters, longitudinal tracks, latitudinal tracks, doors, and implementing components, along with any other components forming a particular implementation of an ice bagging assembly, may be manufactured separately and then assembled together, or any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled or removably coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material(s) forming the components.
It will be understood that particular implementations of ice bagging assemblies are not limited to the specific components disclosed herein, as virtually any components consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for an ice bagging assembly may be utilized. Accordingly, for example, although particular ice bagging apparatuses, ice bag merchandisers, passageways, interior spaces, ice bag diverters, first positions, second positions, first and second opposing cradles, regions, stops, frames, motors, ice bags, stacks, pivots, mechanical limiters, longitudinal tracks, latitudinal tracks, doors, and other components are disclosed, such particular ice bagging apparatuses, ice bag merchandisers, passageways, interior spaces, ice bag diverters, first positions, second positions, first and second opposing cradles, first and second regions, third and fourth regions, pivots, mechanical limiters, longitudinal tracks, latitudinal tracks, doors, and other components may be disclosed, such components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like, consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for an ice bagging assembly, may be used.
In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of an ice bagging assembly, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other ice bagging assemblies. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in this document. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
This Application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/188,516 to Shaker, et al., entitled “Automatic Ice Bag Stacker for Ice Merchandisers,” which was filed on Aug. 11, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.
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