Bagged Ice Storage and Dispensing Using Carriage-Driven Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice dispensing machines suffer from inefficient storage capacity due to the formation of pyramids of bagged ice, requiring frequent manual leveling and re-stocking, which is labor-intensive and inefficient, especially during peak demand periods.

Innovation Solution

A compact apparatus and method that evenly distributes bagged ice into two side-by-side rows within the storage compartment using a carriage-driven article support system, eliminating the need for rotation and allowing for uniform stacking and efficient space utilization, with optional use of a wheeled cart for enhanced capacity and convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If bags are dispensed into a single storage compartment, then the storage compartment can be filled, but the bags form a pyramid shape causing poor space utilization and requiring frequent manual leveling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity utilizationVSAvoidmanual leveling requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The storage compartment is divided into two separate rows (front and rear) where bags are distributed. This segmentation prevents pyramid formation by distributing bags across multiple locations rather than allowing them to stack in a single location, thereby improving space utilization and eliminating the need for manual leveling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The article support is moved in a first horizontal direction back and forth, and rotated between first and second positions, creating a two-dimensional distribution pattern across the storage compartment. This dimensional approach allows bags to be evenly distributed across front and rear rows, maximizing storage capacity utilization and preventing pyramid formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If storage compartment capacity is increased to handle peak demand, then more ice bags can be stored, but the ice making unit cannot keep up with demand during peak periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice bag storage capacityVSAvoidice making speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system distributes ice bags into the storage compartment continuously as they are produced, maintaining an even distribution pattern. This preliminary distribution action ensures that when peak demand occurs, the stored bags are readily available in an organized manner, allowing the storage compartment to effectively hold larger quantities without requiring the ice making unit to accelerate production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If manual leveling is performed frequently to maintain storage compartment organization, then bag distribution remains even, but employee time and safety are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebag distribution uniformityVSAvoidemployee time spent on leveling

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically distributes bags into the storage compartment in an even pattern through the carriage movement and rotation mechanism. This self-service distribution eliminates the need for manual leveling by employees, maintaining bag distribution uniformity while freeing up employee time for other tasks and reducing safety concerns associated with frequent manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If a simple single-position article support is used, then the device structure is simple, but articles cannot be distributed into multiple rows effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle support structureVSAvoidarticle distribution efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The article support is made dynamic through carriage movement in a horizontal direction and rotation between different positions. This dynamic capability allows a relatively simple article support structure to effectively distribute articles into multiple rows (front and rear) across the storage compartment, achieving efficient distribution without requiring a complex multi-component system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10894662B2Method and apparatus for storing and dispensing bagged ice

Publication Date: 2021.01.19 REDDY ICE LLC

AI summary

An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.