U.S. patent application number 11/975177 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for textual display on ice-making machine to assist with ice machine diagnosis and method.
Invention is credited to Matthew W. Allison, Daniel A. Jaszkowski.
Application Number | 20080092562 11/975177 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39314666 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080092562 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allison; Matthew W. ; et
al. |
April 24, 2008 |
Textual display on ice-making machine to assist with ice machine
diagnosis and method
Abstract
Ice-making machine with an add on board that has a textual
display that can be used for a user to view various parameters of
the ice-making machine and its operation and in some cases to
adjust the parameters. The add on board includes a processor and a
display program that presents a main menu and a series of sub-menus
that are selectable from a list on the main menu. The display
program includes both a view mode and an adjust mode.
Inventors: |
Allison; Matthew W.;
(Mundelein, IL) ; Jaszkowski; Daniel A.; (Racine,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul D. Greeley;Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
10th Floor
One Landmark Square
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Family ID: |
39314666 |
Appl. No.: |
11/975177 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60829907 |
Oct 18, 2006 |
|
|
|
60829898 |
Oct 18, 2006 |
|
|
|
60862237 |
Oct 20, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/66 ;
62/127 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 2600/04 20130101;
F25D 2400/361 20130101; F25C 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/066 ;
062/127 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/00 20060101
F25C001/00; F25B 49/00 20060101 F25B049/00 |
Claims
1. An ice-making machine comprising: a housing and a display that
is mounted to said housing and that comprises a display area; an
assembly that makes ice; a processor, a memory and a display
program that is stored in said memory and that when run causes said
processor to present in said display area textual information
concerning the making of ice by said assembly.
2. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein said display further
comprises a plurality of display control buttons, and wherein said
display program responds to manual operation of said display
control buttons to change said textual information.
3. The ice-making machine of claim 2, wherein said textual
information is changed by adjustment of at least one parameter of
said textual information.
4. The ice-making machine of claim 3, wherein said display program
switches between a view only mode and an adjust mode, and wherein
said display program when in said adjust mode adjusts said at least
one parameter.
5. The ice-making machine of claim 2, wherein said display program
presents said textual information in a plurality of menus in said
display area, and wherein said textual information is changed by a
shift from one of said menus to another.
6. The ice-making machine of claim 5, wherein said plurality of
menus comprises a main menu and at least one submenu.
7. The ice-making machine of claim 6, wherein said display program
responds to the manual operation of one or more of said display
control buttons to shift between said main menu and said
submenu.
8. A method for operating an ice-making machine comprising: making
ice; presenting on a display mounted on a housing of said
ice-making machine a textual message concerning the making of
ice.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising manually operating a
plurality of display control buttons to change said textual
information.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said textual information is
changed by adjustment of at least one parameter of said textual
information.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said textual information is
presented in a view only mode or an adjust mode, and when in said
adjust mode, adjusting said at least parameter.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein said textual information is
presented in a plurality of menus on said display, and wherein said
textual information is changed by a shift from one of said menus to
another.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of menus
comprises a main menu and at least one submenu.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising in response to
manual operation of one or more of said display control buttons
shifting between said main menu and said submenu.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/829,907, filed on Oct. 18, 2006, U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/829,898, filed on Oct. 18,
2006, and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/862,237
filed Oct. 20, 2006, the entire contents of each of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to an ice-making
machine with a textual display and a method for operating the ice
machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventional ice-making machines do not provide users with
an ability to quickly diagnose machine status or condition. It
would be useful for both machine operators and service technicians
if there was a quick and easy way to diagnose machine status or
condition, thereby allowing appropriate action to be taken to
reduce delays normally associated with a more manual diagnosis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present inventors have developed a novel ice-making
machine and method comprising a display with a textual capability
for various purposes including machine diagnosis and parameter
adjustment.
[0005] An ice-making machine of the present invention comprises a
housing and a display that is mounted to the housing and that
comprises a display area an assembly that makes ice, a processor, a
memory and a display program. The display program is stored in the
memory and when run causes the processor to present in the display
area textual information concerning the making of ice by the
assembly.
[0006] In one embodiment of the ice-making machine of the present
invention, the display further comprises a plurality of display
control buttons. The display program responds to manual operation
of the display control buttons to change the textual
information.
[0007] In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the
present invention, the textual information is changed by adjustment
of at least one parameter of the textual information.
[0008] In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the
present invention, the display program switches between a view only
mode and an adjust mode and when in the adjust mode adjusts the at
least one parameter.
[0009] In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the
present invention, the display program presents the textual
information in a plurality of menus in the display area. The
textual information is changed by a shift from one of the menus to
another.
[0010] In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the
present invention, the plurality of menus comprises a main menu and
at least one submenu.
[0011] In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the
present invention, the display program responds to the manual
operation of one or more of the display control buttons to shift
between the main menu and the submenu.
[0012] A method of the present invention operates an ice-making
machine by making ice and presenting on a display mounted on a
housing of the ice-making machine a textual message concerning the
making of ice.
[0013] In one embodiment of the method of the present invention, a
plurality of display control buttons is manually operated to change
the textual information.
[0014] In another embodiment of the method of the present
invention, the textual information is changed by adjustment of at
least one parameter of the textual information.
[0015] In another embodiment of the method of the present
invention, the textual information is presented in a view only mode
or an adjust mode, and when in the adjust mode, the at least
parameter is adjusted.
[0016] In another embodiment of the method of the present
invention, the textual information is presented in a plurality of
menus on the display. The textual information is changed by a shift
from one of the menus to another.
[0017] In another embodiment of the method of the present
invention, the plurality of menus comprises a main menu and at
least one submenu.
[0018] In another embodiment of the method of the present
invention, the method further comprises in response to manual
operation of one or more of the display control buttons shifting
between the main menu and the submenu.
[0019] The present invention also provides many additional
advantages, which shall become apparent as described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Other and further objects, advantages and features of the
present invention will be understood by reference to the following
specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference characters denote like elements of structure
and:
[0021] FIG. 1 is front left perspective view of an ice-making
machine of the present invention with an exploded view of a control
board mounting bracket and main control board;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a textual display of
the ice-making machine of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram view of a portion of an advance
feature board of the ice-making machine of FIG. 1; and
[0024] FIGS. 4-20 depict menus and submenus of the textual display
of the ice-making machine of FIG. 1;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] The ice-making machine of the present disclosure regulates
ice making based on time variable electrical power rates and
presents information to a user on a textual display.
[0026] Some utility companies vary power rates during the day to
lower demand during peak use hours. Typical ice-making machines are
mounted on or above ice storage bins. When power rates are low, the
ice-making machine of the present disclosure runs to fill the
storage bin. When power rates are high, the ice-making machine lets
the ice level in the bin drop to lower levels and maintains them at
the lower levels until power rates drop again. Alternatively, if
through monitoring the usage rate of the ice, the ice-making
machine determines that at the lower levels the customer will run
out of ice, the ice-making machine will make ice regardless of
electricity rates.
[0027] By way of example and completeness of description, the
present invention will be described in a preferred embodiment that
comprises a field add on or retrofit to an existing ice-making
machine. Referring to FIG. 1, an ice-making machine 20 comprises an
assembly 21 disposed in a housing 22. Assembly 21 makes ice and
includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a refrigeration
circulation system, a water delivery system, various valves and
switches (none of which is shown on the drawing). Housing 22
comprises a top wall 24, a bottom wall 26, side walls 28 and 30, a
back wall 32 and a front wall 34. In FIG. 1, front wall 34 is
detached to show a control board assembly 36. An ice bin 46 is
located below bottom wall 26.
[0028] Control board assembly 36 comprises a mounting bracket 38
and a main control board 40. A controller 42 and an interface 44
are mounted on main control board 40.
[0029] A field add on assembly 50 comprises a bin level control
board 52, an advance feature control board 54, a communication
cable 56 and a bin level sensing device 58. Bin level sensing
device 58 comprises a sensor 60, a mount 62 and a wire 64. Sensor
60 is any suitable sensor that senses a level of ice in ice bin 46.
Preferably, sensor 60 is an ultrasonic sensor.
[0030] Bin level control board 52 includes circuitry to monitor the
current ice level in ice bin 46, a plug (not shown) and a user
interface knob 66. Bin level control board 52 plugs into main
control board 40. Advance feature control board 54 also plugs into
main control board 40 via communication cable 56.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, advance feature control board 54
comprises a processor 70, a user interface 72, a USB port 74, an
input/output (I/O) interface 90, a plug 92, a memory 94 and a real
time clock 96. An energy program 100 is stored in memory 94 and
when run causes processor 70 to control ice making based on the
time of day and energy (e.g., electricity) rates via I/O interface
90 and communication cable 56. That is, I/O interface 90 sends and
receives signals to and from main control board 40 and ice level
control board 52 via communication cable 56. USB port 74 may be
connected to an external device 106, such as a personal
computer.
[0032] User interface 72 comprises USB port 74, a display area 76,
a scroll down button 78, a scroll up button 80, a select button 82,
an escape button 84 and an enter button 86. A display program 102
is also stored in memory 94 and when run causes processor 70 to
present menus in display area 76. Display program 102 responds to
manual operation of scroll down and up buttons 78 and 80 to scroll
down and up through a list of menu items on a menu presented in
display area 76. Display program 102 responds to manual operation
of select button 82 to make changes to settings, such as
electricity rates and the times of day when applicable or other
parameters. Display program 102 responds to manual operation of
enter button 86 to change from a main menu list to a sub-menu list.
Display program 102 responds to manual operation of escape button
84 to back up through the menu. Display program 102 can also
display alerts and data in display area 76. Examples of alerts are
"service ice machine soon", "slow water fill", "long freeze cycle",
"long harvest cycle", and "high discharge temperature".
[0033] Ice-making machine 20 operates in the following manner:
[0034] 1) Advance feature board 54 obtains electric rates and times
of day when those electric rates are in effect. This is done via
user interface 72 with manual input, a download via USB port 74 or
automatic download from a network, such as the Ethernet or
Internet. [0035] 2) If the electric rates are at their lowest
level, ice-making machine 20 runs until ice bin 46 is full. [0036]
3) If the power rates are not at their lowest, ice-making machine
20 will only run if the current ice level in ice bin 46 sensed by
bin level sensing device 58 drops below a predetermined lower level
or set point set by the user and will only run until the lower
level set point is achieved. In preferred embodiments, the lower
level set point can range up to 32 inches below the bottom of the
ice machine. [0037] 4) If advance feature board 54 determines that
the current ice level in ice bin 26 is dropping by more than a
predetermined rate, ice-making machine 20 will run to maintain the
ice at a level between the user set point and a full point to avoid
running out of ice. The predetermined rate is based on a usage
factor, for example, in inches per hour, based on ice bin size and
machine ice producing capability. The assumption is that the
machine starts with a full bin of ice. It then tracks the rate of
use as the ice is dropping from the full point to the predetermined
lower level cited above. If this rate is too fast, it will start
making ice to bring the machine back to the full level. If not too
fast, it will let the ice level drop to the predetermined lower
level.
[0038] Advance feature board 54 is an add-on board to the base
control system of conventional ice-making machines. It provides
additional features that are not incorporated into the base control
board.
[0039] Display area 76 is sized for a plurality of textual lines of
a plurality of characters. For example, in one embodiment, the
display capacity is two lines and 16 characters per line. Display
program 102 can present information in any desired language.
[0040] Display program 102 also presents warnings in display area
76. For example, a warning "Service Ice Machine Soon" could be
displayed. This warning alerts the user that there may soon be a
problem that will stop ice production if not corrected. Once a
warning has been set no further warnings will be acknowledged until
the current warning is cleared. Also, a text description regarding
service information may be presented in display area 76 with the
warning. This information could specify problem such as, long water
fill time, freeze and/or harvest times exceeding maximum settings,
discharge temperature is nearing a temperature setting that will
trip the ice-making machine.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 4-20, display program 102 uses a menu
structure that comprises a main menu 110 (FIG. 4) and a plurality
of sub-menus shown in FIGS. 5-19. When main menu 110 is presented
in display area 76, a user can use scroll down and up buttons 78
and 80 to scroll through the items of the list. To select an item,
the user stops the scrolling on the item of interest. For example,
the user stops on PGM bin level. The user then presses enter button
86 to select PGM bin level. Display program 102 responds by
presenting a sub-menu (FIG. 18) that lists times 1-4 and levels 1-4
for Monday. Other days of the week may also be included in the
list, but are not shown.
[0042] If the parameter being viewed is settable or adjustable,
pressing select button 82 will be highlighted, e.g., by an
underline or block. If the parameter is not adjustable, it will not
be highlighted. In this case, selecting Time 1 will cause Time 1 to
be displayed in a format of four character positions "00:00" with
the left most position highlighted. Scroll down and up buttons 78
and 80 then are used to select from digits 0 through 9 for the left
most position. When the desired digit is reached, select button 82
is pressed to move to the next character position. The procedure is
repeated for this character position and the remaining character
positions of Time 1. When the right most position has been
completed, press enter button 86 to set the parameter. The screen
will return to the previous sub menu. Press scroll down button 78
to Level1 and press enter button 86. Pressing select button 82 will
load the current selector switch setting from the bin level device.
Change the switch position to change the value. When it's set to
the desired level, press enter button 86 to set the parameter.
[0043] For example, the following keying sequence of the buttons
could be used for adjustment of the parameters. Press scroll down
button 78 until "Utility Rates" is displayed. Press enter button 86
and the submenu of FIG. 20 will be presented. Scroll through
adjustable parameters using up and down buttons 80 and 78. To
adjust a parameter, press the select button 82. Use scroll up and
down buttons 80 and 78 and select button 82 to change values as
needed. Press enter button 86 when complete. Adjustable parameters
for the electric utility rate function (FIG. 20), for example, may
be: Time 1, Rate1, Time 2, Rate 2, Time 3, Rate 3, Time 4, Rate 4.
If the number of rate increments is less than 4, leave the entries
as zero and they will be ignored.
[0044] In the above example, only numeric values were presented. If
alphabetic values are adjustable, scroll down and up buttons 78 and
80 are used to scroll through the alphabet. When finished making
changes, pressing enter button 86 stores the changed value.
Pressing escape button 84 changes from the adjust mode back to the
view mode. Pressing escape button 84 again returns the Main menu to
display area 76.
[0045] The present invention having been thus described with
particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be
obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *