U.S. patent application number 10/777477 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-23 for ice-making apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Castel Mac S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Portelli, Paolo.
Application Number | 20040182102 10/777477 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32983205 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040182102 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Portelli, Paolo |
September 23, 2004 |
Ice-making apparatus
Abstract
An ice cube maker having an evaporator in fluid communication
with a flow control device to supply water for making ice cubes is
provided. The water is supplied by a pump from a storage tank
supported by a support element underneath the evaporator. The
storage tank is removably connected to the support element and/or a
casing of the ice cube maker.
Inventors: |
Portelli, Paolo; (Veneto,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul D. Greeley, Esq.
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
One Landmark Square, 10th Floor
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Assignee: |
Castel Mac S.p.A.
|
Family ID: |
32983205 |
Appl. No.: |
10/777477 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/340 ;
62/348 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 1/12 20130101; F25C
2400/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/340 ;
062/348 |
International
Class: |
F25C 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 12, 2003 |
IT |
MI2003A 000465 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. An ice-making machine comprising: an evaporator, a support
element, and a storage tank for storing water to be formed into
ice, wherein said storage tank is removably connected to said
support element.
2. The ice-making machine of claim 1, further comprising first and
second connecting structures, said first and second connecting
structures being capable of removably engaging with each other,
wherein said first and second connecting structures are disposed on
opposite surfaces of said storage tank and said support element
respectively for removable connection of said storage tank with
said support element.
3. The ice-making machine of claim 2, wherein said first connecting
structure is a grappling tooth, and wherein said second connecting
structure is a corresponding grappling seat.
4. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein said evaporator is
connected to said support element, and wherein said evaporator is
disposed above said storage tank.
5. The ice-making machine of claim 4, wherein said storage tank is
a sump in fluid communication with said evaporator.
6. The ice-making machine of claim 1, further comprising a housing,
wherein said evaporator, said storage tank and said support element
are disposed in said housing, and wherein said housing is divided
into a plurality of compartments.
7. The ice-making machine of claim 6, wherein said support element
divides said housing into said plurality of compartments.
8. The ice-making machine of claim 7, wherein said support element
is a sidewall and a dividing wall of said housing, said storage
tank being removably affixed to said sidewall and said dividing
wall.
9. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein said storage tank
requires movement in at least two different directions to removably
connect or disconnect with said support element.
10. The ice-making machine of claim 9, wherein said at least two
different directions are first and second directions, wherein said
first direction is in a plane orthogonal to said opposite surfaces,
and wherein said second direction is in a plane parallel to said
opposite surfaces.
11. The ice-making machine of claim 10, wherein said second
direction lies along an axis inclined from vertical.
12. The ice-making machine of claim 2, wherein said first
connecting structure is a coupling screw having a head, wherein
said second connecting structure is a slot having a groove, and
wherein said head can hook into said groove.
13. The ice-making machine of claim 2, wherein said opposite
surfaces of said storage tank and said support element are
substantially planar surfaces.
14. The ice-making machine of claim 2, further comprising a
housing, wherein said first and second connecting structures are
disposed on opposite surfaces of said storage tank and said
housing.
15. The ice-making machine of claim 14, wherein said first
connecting structure or said second connecting structure is
manually controlled.
16. The ice-making machine of claim 4, further comprising a flow
control device in fluid communication with said evaporator and said
storage tank for distributing said water from said storage tank to
said evaporator, wherein said storage tank catches waste water from
said evaporator and recycles said waste water back to said flow
control device.
17. The ice-making machine of claim 16, wherein said evaporator is
a vertical evaporator, and wherein said flow control device is a
water sprayer.
18. The ice-making machine of claim 10, wherein said second
direction lies along a vertical axis.
19. The ice-making machine of claim 14, wherein said opposite
surfaces of said storage tank and said housing are a lateral planar
face of the storage tank and an opposite planar face of the
housing.
20. The ice-making machine of claim 16, further comprising a pump
in fluid communication with said flow control device and said
storage tank, wherein said pump provides said waste water from said
storage tank to said flow control device.
21. The ice-making machine of claim 20, further comprising a wall
that substantially isolates said evaporator from said pump.
22. The ice-making machine of claim 21, wherein said wall is
pivotable with respect to said evaporator.
23. A method for removable connection of a storage tank having
water which is used to make ice in an ice maker that has an
evaporator and a support element, the method comprising the steps
of requiring movement of said storage tank in a first direction
with respect to said support element and then in a second direction
with respect to said support element, thereby connecting or
disconnecting said storage tank with said support element.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said first direction and said
second direction are at an angle with respect to each other of 90
degrees or more.
25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of
requiring removable connection or disconnection of a lateral planar
face of said storage tank with an opposite planar face of a housing
of the ice cube maker.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority in Italian Application No.
M12003A 000465 filed on Mar. 12, 2003, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to an ice-making machine or
ice cube maker and, more particularly, to an ice-making machine
with a removable water tank.
[0003] Ice cube makers, and more particularly, ice cube makers with
vertical evaporators are known. These ice cube makers have an
internal storage tank placed underneath the evaporator that can
contain water to be transformed into ice. The water can be taken
via a transfer pump to a flow control device, which in turn
distributes this water over the surface of the evaporator to form
the ice cubes.
[0004] In such an ice maker, the storage tank for the water to be
transformed into ice is connected in permanent fashion to the frame
as a single, integral piece of the frame, and is difficult to
access, even when removing the casing of the ice maker.
Furthermore, over the course of time, dirt is formed in the storage
tank, there are incrustations from the progressive depositing and
buildup of lime contained in the water, and aquatic bacteria and
algae grow and proliferate. Accordingly, there is a need to improve
the cleanliness and hygiene for the water storage tank.
[0005] The cleaning of these contemporary storage tanks is done
through use of sanitizing agents, made to circulate in the storage
tank through the operation of the transfer pump. The cleansing and
cleaning of the storage tank achieved in this way is
unsatisfactory, because it cannot offer an absolute guarantee of
the result obtained, since it is not possible or it is extremely
difficult to make an inspection and visual check. Furthermore,
these storage tanks are sanitized exclusively in the portions that
come into contact with the sanitizing agents.
[0006] The technical problem of the present invention is therefore
to produce an ice cube maker with an evaporator which makes it
possible to eliminate the technical disadvantages of the prior
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In the context of this technical problem, the present
invention provides an ice cube maker with an evaporator, where the
ice cube maker allows a complete and careful cleaning and
sanitization of the storage tank for the water used to make the
ice.
[0008] The present invention also provides an ice cube maker with
an evaporator, where the ice cube maker enables the cleaning and
sanitizing of the storage tank for the water used to make the ice
in a relatively simple and rapid manner.
[0009] The present invention provides an ice cube maker with an
evaporator, where the ice cube maker enables the cleaning and the
sanitizing of the storage tank for the water to make the ice
without the need to completely dismantle the ice maker. The
technical problem is solved by creating an ice cube maker, of the
type containing an evaporator supplied with water by a water flow
device to form ice cubes. The water is drawn by a recirculation
pump from a storage tank supported by a support element underneath
the evaporator. There is a removable connection between the storage
tank and the support element.
[0010] In one aspect, an ice-making machine is provided. The
ice-making machine comprises an evaporator, a support element, and
a storage tank for storing water to be formed into ice. The storage
tank is removably connected to the support element. The storage
tank can require movement in at least two different directions to
removably connect or disconnect with the support element. The
evaporator may also be connected to the support element, and can be
disposed above the storage tank. The ice-making machine can further
comprise a flow control device and a pump. The flow control device
can be in fluid communication with the evaporator and the pump,
while the pump can be in fluid communication with the flow control
device and the storage tank. The flow control device distributes
the water to the evaporator. The evaporator may be a vertical
evaporator. The flow control device can be a water sprayer.
[0011] The ice-making machine can further comprise first and second
connecting structures. The first and second connecting structures
may provide for removable connection of the storage tank with the
support element. The first and second connecting structures can be
disposed on opposite surfaces of the storage tank and the support
element. The opposite surfaces of the storage tank and the support
element can be planar. The at least two different directions can be
first and second directions. The first direction may be in a plane
orthogonal to the opposite surfaces, and the second direction may
be in a plane parallel to the opposite surfaces. The second
direction can also lie along an axis inclined from vertical. The
second direction may lie along a vertical axis. The ice-making
machine can also have a housing, and the evaporator, storage tank
and support element may be disposed in the housing. The housing may
be divided into a plurality of compartments. The support element
can also be used to divide the housing into a plurality of
compartments. The ice-making machine may also have a wall that
substantially isolates the evaporator from the pump. The wall can
be pivotable with respect to the evaporator.
[0012] The first connecting structure can be a grappling tooth and
the second connecting structure can be a corresponding grappling
seat. The first connecting structure may also be a coupling screw
having a head, and the second connecting structure may be a slot
having a groove, so that the head can selectively hook into the
groove. The ice-making machine can further comprise a housing where
the first and second connecting structures are disposed on opposite
surfaces of the storage tank and the housing. The opposite surfaces
of the storage tank and the housing may be a lateral planar face of
the storage tank and an opposite planar face of the housing. Either
or both of the first connecting structure and the second connecting
structure can also be manually controlled. The water storage tank
can be a sump. The water storage tank may also be a tank, which
catches waste water from the evaporator and recycles it back to a
water flow distribution device. The support element can be one or
more side walls of the housing and one or more dividing walls of
the housing, and the sump may be removably affixed to the side
walls and dividing walls.
[0013] In another aspect, a method for removable connection of a
storage tank for water to make ice in an ice cube maker that has an
evaporator and a support element, is provided. The steps of the
method comprise requiring movement of the storage tank in a first
direction with respect to the support element and then requiring
movement in a second direction with respect to the support element
thereby connecting or disconnecting the storage tank with the
support element. The first direction and the second direction can
be at an angle with respect to each other of 90 degrees or more.
The method can further comprise the step of requiring removable
connection or disconnection of a lateral planar face of the storage
tank with an opposite planar face of a housing of the ice cube
maker.
[0014] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention shall
become clearer from the description of a preferred but not
exclusive embodiment of the ice maker according to the invention,
illustrated for purposes of understanding and non-limiting in the
appended drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a front portion of an ice
maker according to the present invention, whose casing has been
partially removed to show internal components;
[0016] FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of the storage tank of FIG.
1 with a first preferred embodiment of the connection
structure;
[0017] FIG. 2b shows an exploded perspective view of the storage
tank and the support element of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of the storage tank with a
second preferred embodiment of the connection structure; and
[0019] FIG. 3b shows an exploded perspective view of the storage
tank of FIG. 3a and the support element of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Making reference to the indicated figures, an ice cube maker
or ice-making machine is shown and indicated generally by reference
number 1. The ice maker 1 comprises a vertical evaporator (not
shown, since it is hidden by the corresponding horizontally
pivotable wall or lid 3), which is disposed parallel to the front
side of the ice maker 1. While this embodiment shows a vertical
evaporator, the present disclosure contemplates the use of other
types and arrangements of evaporators. The ice maker 1 further
comprises a flow control device 5 which in this embodiment is a
spray device. The spray device 5 supplies or sprinkles the
evaporator with water to form the ice. The water is supplied to the
spray device 5 by a recirculation pump 7, which is in fluid
communication with a storage tank or sump 9 and draws the water
therefrom. The pump 7 is in fluid communication with the spray
device 5 through a pipe 13. The storage tank 9 is removably
supported beneath the evaporator by a flat support wall, housing or
element 11, and catches waste water from the evaporator and
recycles it back to the spray device 5 via pump 7. The evaporator
is also preferably supported by the support element 11, which
further compartmentalizes the inside of the ice maker 1, as shown
in FIG. 1 and acts as a dividing wall.
[0021] The spray device 5 is disposed above the evaporator and has
a plurality of holes (not shown) which distribute the water, which
penetrates by gravity into a plurality of compartments (not shown)
for making the ice. While the present invention uses a spray device
5 to distribute the water to the evaporator, the present disclosure
contemplates the use of other types of flow control devices for
distribution and supply of the water to the evaporator, such as,
for example, water distribution tubes.
[0022] The evaporator is part of a refrigerating assembly (not
shown), in which a refrigerant fluid circulates. The refrigerating
assembly further comprises a compressor that supplies a condenser
(preferably provided with a fan for air cooling). The condenser is
connected to a laminar flow element and is also connected in turn
to the evaporator and then again to the compressor. Other
refrigeration components may also be used with the refrigerating
assembly. Preferably, at the end of the ice-making process in the
compartments, i.e., the freezing cycle, the refrigeration process
is reversed and heating of the compartments results in the release
of the ice cubes, i.e., the harvest cycle.
[0023] In this embodiment, the ice cubes are taken by gravity along
surfaces sloping forward and downward against the lid 3 of the
evaporator. Under the action of their own weight, the ice cubes
succeed in causing the evaporator lid 3 to pivot open, and they are
finally collected in a container (not shown) placed at the bottom
of the ice maker 1. However, the present disclosure contemplates
the use of alternative structures and methods of delivering the ice
to a container or the like during the harvest cycle. Additionally,
as shown in FIG. 1, wall or lid 3 isolates the pump 7 from the
evaporator when the lid is in a closed position.
[0024] The ice maker 1 has a removable connection for the storage
tank 9 with the corresponding support element 11, which is
preferably a releasable connection that does not require tools for
removal or engagement. The removable connection is provided at
least between one face or surface of the storage tank 9,
preferably, its rear face, and the opposite face or surface of the
corresponding support element 11. More preferably, the rear face is
planar and the opposite face of the corresponding support element
11 is also planar. The removable connection operates by at least
first and second translational movements or directions of movements
or force. Preferably, to engage the storage tank 9 with the
supporting element 11, the first translation movement is situated
in a plane orthogonal to the opposing planar faces of the storage
tank and the corresponding support element while the second
translation movement is parallel to the opposing planar faces. More
preferably, the second translation movement may lie along a
vertical axis or may be inclined from the vertical.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a removable connection system
for the storage tank 9 is shown which requires a second translation
movement essentially vertically upward or downward. In this
embodiment, the removable connection comprises at least one
grappling tooth 15, and preferably three, disposed on the storage
tank 9. Each of the grappling teeth extend from the back face of
the storage tank 9 and are turned vertically downward. The
removable connection further comprises at least one grappling seat,
and preferably three continuous openings 26 of the support element
11, each being able to mate with a corresponding grappling tooth
15.
[0026] The removable connection can also be provided between at
least one of the sides, and preferably planar sides, of the storage
tank 9 and the opposing planar side of the casing or housing of the
ice maker 1. More preferably, this removable connection is manually
operated. Most preferably, the removable connection can be formed,
for example, by a screw-tight element 40, having a handle at one
end by which manual control can be exerted.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, a removable connection system
for the storage tank 9 is shown which requires a second translation
movement downward, but inclined in the vertical direction. In this
embodiment, the removable connection comprises at least one
coupling screw on the support element 11, and preferably a coupling
screw 28 having a head 30 and being partially screwed onto the
support element 11. The removable connection further comprises at
least one slot on the rear face of the storage tank 9, and
preferably a slot 17 formed by an elongated portion 32 which can
hook the head 30 of the screw 28 and a groove 16, which extends
from the elongated portion 32 with a downward inclination.
[0028] In the embodiment discussed above, the removable connection
is provided between the storage tank 9 and the support element 11.
However, further removable connection structures can be provided
between at least one of the flat sides of the storage tank 9 and
the opposing flat side of the casing or housing of the ice maker 1.
These removable connection structures are preferably of manual
operation. In particular, they can be formed by a screw-tight
element 40 in an elongated slot 42, having a handle at one end by
which manual control is exerted. The procedure for removable
connection of the storage tank 9 therefore calls for connecting its
rear planar face to the opposing planar face of the corresponding
support element 11 by a first translation movement of the storage
tank in a plane orthogonal to the opposing faces and a second
translation movement of the storage tank downward in a parallel
plane with said opposing planar faces. Preferably, the procedure
involves, as seen above, also a removable fixation of at least one
of the lateral planar faces of the storage tank 9 to an opposite
planar face of the casing or housing of the ice maker 1.
[0029] Referring to the embodiment of the removable connection
shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the first translation movement introduces
each grappling tooth 15 into the corresponding grappling seat 26,
while the second translation movement downward produces the hooking
of each grappling tooth 15 in the corresponding grappling seat
26.
[0030] Referring to the embodiment of the removable connection
shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the first translation movement introduces
the head 30 of the screw 28 in the elongated part 32 of the
corresponding coupling slot 17, while the second downward
translation movement allows the shank of the screw 28 to slide in
the groove 16 of the coupling slot 17 and produces the coupling of
the screw 28 in the slot 17.
[0031] The present invention can also have alternative structures
that allow for removable connection of the storage tank 9 to either
the support element 1, the casing (housing), or both. Preferably,
such alternative structures require movement or application of
force in at least two different directions to engage and disengage
the storage tank. The two different directions can be at a right
angle to each other or greater than 90 degrees.
[0032] While the instant disclosure has been described with
reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be
made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof
without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many
modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or
material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from
the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure
not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the
best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that
the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope
of the appended claims.
* * * * *