Ice dispenser

{
  "publication_number": "US4846381A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Ice dispenser",
  "abstract": "An ice dispenser comprises an ice stroage chamber within which an agitator is rotatably mounted. In response to reception of an ice dispensation signal, a motor for driving the agitator is controlled in a predetermined timing sequence independent of a period during which ice pellets are dispensed from the ice storage chamber by means of an auger and a time interval intervening between the preceeding and succeeding ice dispensing operations. To this end, a first timer for driving first the agitator and a second timer for stopping the agitator for a predetermined period are provided in association with the agitator driving motor.",
  "claims": [
    "1. In an ice dispenser apparatus including an ice storage chamber, an ice dispensing mechanism mounted rotatably within said ice storage chamber for dispensing outwardly ice pellets stored within said ice storage chamber, an ice dispensation signal generating means operatively connected to said ice dispensing mechanism for generating an ice dispensing signal to trigger operation of said ice dispensing mechanism, an agitator means mounted rotatably within said ice storage chamber for agitating the ice pellets within said ice storage chamber, and a drive means coupled to said agitator means for driving said agitator means, said driving means being operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and adapted to be energized in response to said ice dispensing signal, the improvement comprising: a first means operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and said ice dispensing mechanism for causing said ice dispensing mechanism to be operated over a period during which said ice dispensing signal is issued; and a second means operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and said driving means for energizing said driving means for a first period in response to generation of said ice dispensing signal and deenergizing said driving means for a second period which occurs subsequent to said first period; wherein said first period is substantially shorter than said period during which the ice dispensing signal is issued; and wherein said first and second periods are unrelated to both the length of time during which said ice dispensing mechanism discharges the ice pellets in the ice storage chamber and the time interval between ice pellet discharges.",
    "2. An ice dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said period during which said ice dispensing signal is produced exceeds a sum of said first and second periods, said second means operates to execute repeatedly a cycle including the energization of said driving means over said first period and deenergization of said driving means over said second period.",
    "3. An ice dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second means includes a time adjusting means capable of adjusting the durations of said first period and said second period, respectively.",
    "4. An ice dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ice dispensation signal generating means includes an ice dispensing member manipulatable externally of said apparatus and an ice dispensing switch closed through manipulation of said ice dispensing member, and further including a mode change-over switch connected in series with said ice dispensing switch and capable of changing over ice dispensing operation between a continuous dispensing mode and a constant amount dispensing mode, said change-over switch having a continuous dispensing mode contact for outputting a contact signal of said ice dispensing switch intact as said ice dispensing signal and a constant amount dispensing mode contact connected in series to a constant amount dispensing timer for outputting as said ice dispensing signal a turn-on signal for a predetermined period from the time point at which said ice dispensing switch is closed.",
    "5. An ice dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further including an ice storage level sensor mounted within said ice storage chamber, and a long duration timer (TM 5) operatively connected to said ice storage level sensor and said second means for counting a predetermined period of long duration when said ice storage sensor signal indicates the state full of ice over a time span exceeding said predetermined period of long duration, wherein said long duration timer outputs said ice dispensation signal to said second means for a predetermined period of short duration (t 5B) upon completion of counting of said predetermined period of long duration.",
    "6. An ice dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said ice dispensing signal is outputted to said second means for said period of short duration before ice making operation is stopped in succession to the indication of the state full of ice issued by said ice storage level sensor.",
    "7. In an ice dispenser apparatus including an ice storage chamber, an ice dispensing mechanism mounted rotatably within said ice storage chamber for dispensing outwardly ice pellets stored within said ice storage chamber, an ice dispensation signal generating means operatively connected to said ice dispensing mechanism for generating an ice dispensing signal to trigger operation of said ice dispensing mechanism, an agitator means mounted rotatably within said ice storage chamber for agitating the ice pellets within said ice storage chamber, and a drive means coupled to said agitator means for driving said agitator means, said driving means being operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and adapted to be energized in response to said ice dispensing signal, the improvement comprising: a first means operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and said ice dispensing mechanism for causing said ice dispensing mechanism to be operated over a period during which said ice dispensing signal is issued; and a second means operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and said driving means for energizing said driving means for a first period in response to generation of said ice dispensing signal and deenergizing said driving means for a second period which occurs subsequent to said first period; wherein when said period during which said ice dispensing signal is produced exceeds a sum of said first and second periods, said second means operates to execute repeatedly a cycle including the energization of said driving means over said first period and deenergization of said driving means over said second period.",
    "8. In an ice dispenser apparatus including an ice storage chamber, an ice dispensing mechanism mounted rotatably within said ice storage chamber for dispensing outwardly ice pellets stored within said ice storage chamber, an ice dispensation signal generating means operatively connected to said ice dispensing mechanism for generating an ice dispensing signal to trigger operation of said ice dispensing mechanism, an agitator means mounted rotatably within said ice stroage chamber for agitating the ice pellets within said ice storage chamber, and a drive means coupled to said agitator means for driving said agitator means, said driving means being operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and adapted to be energized in response to said ice dispensing signal, the improvement comprising: a first means operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and said ice dispensing mechanism for causing said ice dispensing mechanism to be operated over a period during which said ice dispensing signal is issued; and a second means operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and said driving means for energizing said driving means for a first period in response to generation of said ice dispensing signal and deenergizing said driving means for a second period which occurs subsequent to said first period; wherein said second means includes a time adjusting means capable of adjusting the durations of said first period and said second period, respectively.",
    "9. In an ice dispenser apparatus including an ice storage chamber, an ice dispensing mechanism mounted rotatably within said ice storage chamber for dispensing outwardly ice pellets stored within said ice storage chamber, an ice dispensation signal generating means operatively connected to said ice dispensing mechanism for generating an ice dispensing signal to trigger operation of said ice dispensing mechanism, an agitator means mounted rotatably within said ice storage chamber for agitating the ice pellets within said ice storage chamber, and a drive means coupled to said agitator means for driving said agitator means, said driving means being operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and adapted to be energized in response to said ice dispensing signal, the improvement comprising: a first means operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and said ice dispensing mechanism for causing said ice dispensing mechanism to be operated over a period during which said ice dispensing signal is issued; and a second means operatively coupled to said ice dispensation signal generating means and said driving means for energizing said driving means for a first period in response to generation of said ice dispensing signal and deenergizing said driving means for a second period which occurs subsequent to said first period; wherein said ice dispensation signal generating means includes an ice dispensing member manipulatable externally of said apparatus and an ice dispensing switch closed through manipulation of said ice dispensing member, and further including a mode change-over switch connected in series with said ice dispensing switch and capable of changing over ice dispensing operation between a continuous dispensing mode and a constant amount dispensing mode, said change-over switch having a continuous dispensing mode contact for outputting a contact signal of said ice dispensing switch intact as said ice dispensing signal and a constant amount dispensing mode contact connected in series to a constant amount dispensing timer for outputting as said ice dispensing signal a turn-on signal for a predetermined period from the time point at which said ice dispensing switch is closed.",
    "10. An ice dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further including an ice storage level sensor mounted within said ice storage chamber, and a long duration timer (TMs) operatively connected to said ice storage level sensor and said second means for counting a predetermined period of long duration when said ice storage sensor signal indicates the state full of ice over a time span exceeding said predetermined period of long duration, wherein said long duration timer outputs said ice dispensation signal to said second means for a predetermined period of short duration (t 5B) upon completion of counting of said predetermined period of long duration.",
    "11. An ice dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said ice dispensing signal is outputted to said second means for said period of short duration before ice making operation is stopped in succession to the indication of the state full of ice issued by said ice storage level sensor."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates generally to an ice dispenser apparatus for discharging or dispensing an amount of ice from an ice storage chamber in response to an ice dispensation request signal and more particularly to an ice dispenser apparatus of such a novel and improved structure in which pulverization of ice pieces or pellets stored within the ice storage chamber due to agitation thereof can be suppressed to a minimum to thereby prevent occurrence of a so-called arching phenomenon in which ice pellets are rigidly connected to one another through molten ice powder resulting from the pulverized ice pellets.\n\n2. Prior Art\n\nHeretofore, there have been used a variety of ice dispensing machines, a typical one of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,656 and which will be described below in respect to the structure having relevance to the understanding of the present invention by referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 6 shows the known ice dispenser with portions being broken away and FIG. 7 shows an electric circuit for controlling operation of the ice dispenser.\n\nNow referring to FIG. 6 together with FIG. 7, when an dispensing switch 110 is closed as a result of accumulation of ice pellets within an ice storage chamber 128 as produced by an ice making mechanism of the structure known per se, a relay 110 is electrically energized through a contact 112 of an ice dispensing timer 118 and an ice dispensation activating switch 114, whereby a relay contact 116 is closed.",
  "cpc": [
    "F25C 5/24",
    "F25C 2500/08"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F25C 5/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Yoshikazu Kito",
    "Yasumitsu Tsukiyama",
    "Susumu Tatematsu"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1987-12-01",
  "publication_date": "1989-07-11",
  "grant_date": "1989-07-11",
  "priority_date": "1986-12-08",
  "application_number": "US-12750087-A",
  "family_id": "17755087",
  "cited_by_count": 50,
  "citations": [
    "US3151668A",
    "US3651656A",
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    "US3858765A",
    "US4227377A",
    "US4676405A",
    "US4496087A",
    "US4679715A"
  ]
}