Horizontal Auger Ice Vending Layout for Compact Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice vending machines are bulky, expensive, and prone to malfunction due to the need for multiple ice moving devices and frequent shutdowns for cleaning and sanitizing, which increases costs and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An ice vending structure with an insulated building, an ice maker, and a horizontal ice moving auger that ejects ice into a chute directing it downward and rearward for packaging, eliminating the need for vertical ice movement and using ozonated water for continuous sanitization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple ice moving devices are used to position ice in conventional vending machines, then ice can be delivered from the hopper, but the device becomes bulky, expensive, and prone to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex vertical ice lifting mechanism from the system. Instead of using multiple ice moving devices to lift ice vertically above the hopper, the invention extracts this function and replaces it with a horizontal auger that moves ice laterally to a discharge opening, eliminating the need for vertical drop and complex positioning equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional ice delivery approach. Rather than lifting ice upward and allowing it to drop downward through gravity, the invention discharges ice horizontally or downward-rearward directly from the hopper through a discharge opening, reversing the traditional vertical lift-and-drop mechanism.
2Productivity
If conventional ice vending machines are used, then ice can be dispensed, but the machine requires periodic shutdowns for cleaning and sanitizing which increases costs and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous operation of the ice vending machine by implementing a design that eliminates the need for periodic shutdowns for cleaning and sanitizing. The simplified horizontal discharge system with its open architecture allows for continuous ice production and dispensing without interruption, maintaining productive action at all times.
3Area of stationary object
If ice is moved vertically above the hopper in conventional machines, then gravity can feed ice downward, but the footprint of the machine increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the ice movement from vertical to horizontal dimension. Instead of moving ice vertically above the hopper and allowing gravitational drop, the invention uses a horizontal auger to move ice laterally to a discharge opening positioned on the side or rear of the hopper, utilizing horizontal space more efficiently and reducing the vertical footprint requirement.
4Ease of manufacture
If multiple ice moving devices are employed, then ice can be positioned and delivered, but the equipment becomes bulky and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple ice moving devices into a single horizontal auger system. The auger performs both the ice movement and positioning functions that previously required separate vertical lift mechanisms and hopper positioning devices, consolidating multiple components into one simpler, more cost-effective unit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces the footprint and operational costs of ice vending machines, enhances efficiency by eliminating the need for multiple ice moving devices and periodic sanitization, and ensures continuous operation with reduced ice clumping and improved customer access.
Implementation Method 1
A substantially horizontal ice moving auger is positioned in the bottom of the ice bin for moving ice in the ice bin toward the front end
Implementation Method 2
A bottom defines a downwardly and rearwardly directed discharge opening, directing the ice ejected from the aperture in a downward and rearward direction
Implementation Method 3
An ice vending structure with an insulated building, an ice maker
Implementation Method 4
using ozonated water for continuous sanitization
Data Source
AI summary
An ice vending structure for making and dispensing ice has an ice maker couplable to a water source. An ice bin is positioned under the ice maker for receiving ice made by the ice maker. A substantially horizontal ice moving auger is positioned in the bottom of the ice bin for ejecting ice out an aperture substantially horizontally, to be received by an ice chute coupled to the aperture. The ice chute directs the ice in a downward and rearward direction into bags supplied by a bag holder assembly.