Ice Vending Auger Layout for Maintenance and Ice Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice vending machines face design limitations, such as restricted access for maintenance, inefficient ice transfer, and potential ice clumping due to suboptimal auger motor placement and transfer box design, which hinder operational efficiency and ease of service.
Innovation Solution
The ice vending machine features an improved transfer box with a rotatable circular opening for flexible incline angle mounting, a top-mounted inclined auger motor with chain and sprocket or direct drive options, a ribbed lip shelf to prevent ice avalanches, a removable rear wall for easier access, and a unique vendor front and awning design for enhanced functionality and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inclined auger motor is mounted at the bottom of the inclined auger, then the structure is compact, but maintenance accessibility is restricted and ice transfer efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The motor mounting position is inverted from the conventional bottom mounting to top mounting on the inclined auger. This inversion allows maintenance personnel to access the motor from above, significantly improving maintenance accessibility while the motor drives the auger through a vertical drive shaft that transmits power downward to the auger at the bottom.
2Productivity
If the transfer box has a fixed angled wall design, then the structure is simple, but ice clumping occurs and ice transfer efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer box design incorporates a rotatable circular opening at the top that can be rotated to different angular positions. This dynamic element allows the inclined auger to be mounted at various incline angles (e.g., 30, 45, 60 degrees) relative to the horizontal auger, enabling optimization of ice flow and transfer efficiency while preventing ice clumping by adjusting the angle according to operational needs.
3Productivity
If the horizontal auger directly receives ice from the holding vessel, then the structure is simple, but ice avalanches occur and ice transfer is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
A transfer box is introduced as an intermediary device between the holding vessel and the horizontal auger. The transfer box includes a funnel-shaped bottom portion that receives ice from the holding vessel and directs it to the horizontal auger, preventing ice avalanches and improving transfer efficiency. The transfer box also includes a ribbed lip shelf that further controls ice flow.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the ribbed lip shelf is not installed, then the structure is simple, but ice avalanches occur from the holding vessel floor
Solution Approach 1:
A ribbed lip shelf is installed at the edge of the holding vessel floor where ice flow is problematic. The shelf includes vertical ribs that create friction and resistance to ice movement, locally preventing ice avalanches at the critical location where the holding vessel meets the transfer box, without requiring modification of the entire holding vessel structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice vending machine automatically provides ice to a customer based upon a request from the consumer for the ice. In some embodiments, the ice vending machine includes a transfer box to transfer ice from a horizontal auger to an inclined auger. In some embodiments, the inclined auger motor is mounted at the top of the inclined auger. The inclined auger motor may drive the inclined auger by way of a chain and sprockets or directly drive the inclined auger without a chain or sprockets. In some embodiments, a lip shelf is located at an edge of the holding vessel floor. In some embodiments, a rear wall is removable from the holding vessel. In some embodiments, the ice machine includes an awning, a top hat, or an ice maker canopy. In some embodiments, the ice vending machine includes an improved motor and chain layout.