U.S. patent application number 12/400530 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-09 for dispensing method for ice makers.
Invention is credited to Chin-Wen CHOU.
Application Number | 20100224279 12/400530 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42677171 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100224279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHOU; Chin-Wen |
September 9, 2010 |
DISPENSING METHOD FOR ICE MAKERS
Abstract
A dispensing method for ice makers to determine dispensing of
different materials through varying fetched locations of a
container includes steps: defining a fetched zone for holding one
container; generating a judgment signal varying according to
different fetched locations of the container positioned in the
fetched zone; and determining to dispense the materials from a
cluster of multiple dispensing units or one of them to the
container according to the judgment signal. Thus multiple materials
can be obtained in one fetched space through different positioning
locations of the container. Material dispensing process is
simplified and users can get diversified materials quickly and
easily in a limited space.
Inventors: |
CHOU; Chin-Wen; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC
4000 Legato Road, Suite 310
FAIRFAX
VA
22033
US
|
Family ID: |
42677171 |
Appl. No.: |
12/400530 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/20 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/1 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/04 20060101
B65B001/04 |
Claims
1. A dispensing method for ice makers to control delivery of
material to a container, comprising the steps of: S1: defining a
fetched zone for holding one container; S2: generating a judgment
signal varying according to different fetched locations of the
container positioned in the fetched zone; and S3: determining to
dispense the material from a cluster of multiple dispensing units
or one thereof to the container according to the judgment
signal.
2. The dispensing method of claim 1, wherein the step of
recognizing the container being positioned on the targeted fetched
location further includes the steps of: S21: getting the fetched
location of the container in the fetched zone; S22: triggering a
time interval when the container is positioned at the fetched
location, and defining the triggering time as a start time, and the
elapsed time of the time interval as an end time; and S23:
restarting triggering of the start time of the time interval when
the fetched location of the container is being changed before the
end time is reached; and judging the container being positioned at
the targeted fetched location when the end time is reached.
3. The dispensing method of claim 2, wherein the step of getting
the fetched location of the container in the fetched zone is
accomplished through an infrared sensor.
4. The dispensing method of claim 2, wherein the step of getting
the fetched location of the container in the fetched zone is
accomplished through a pressure sensor means.
5. The dispensing method of claim 2, wherein the step of getting
the fetched location of the container in the fetched zone is
accomplished through a switch means triggered by a mechanical
driving means driven by the container.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing method for ice
makers and particularly to a dispensing method that determines
dispensing of different materials through different fetched
locations of a container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Advance of electrical and mechanical technologies has
spawned a wide variety of labor-saving dispensing equipment. For
instance, devices to dispense liquid or solid material (such as ice
cubes) are widely adopted these days. They are commonly used at
drinking shops and fast food stores to dispense water, coffee,
juices and ice cubes. Some of them also are applicable in houses or
refrigerators.
[0003] Those dispensing equipment generally adopts a substantially
same dispensing method. For instance, at cafeterias and fast food
outlets, they usually provide a number of beverages for customer
selection. Each beverage is supplied by dispensing equipment which
has an outlet, a trigger lever and a supplying deck at the outlet
to hold a cup. In some occasions, a big supplying deck is provided
and shared by multiple outlets arranged in a juxtaposed manner to
supply different beverages. By placing the cup beneath a selected
outlet and pressing the trigger lever, the selected beverage can be
dispensed as desired. The conventional dispensing method mentioned
above adopts a simple mechanical means which can be easily
fabricated at a lower cost. Each outlet has a mating independent
sensor or detection means, such as the trigger lever previously
discussed. To supply multiple different beverages, one or multiple
sets of dispensing equipment equipped with respective outlets and
trigger levers have to be provided. A greater space is needed to
accommodate them. Hence they usually are adopted only in business
environments such as cafeterias and fast food outlets where a lot
of space is available to serve a great number of people. In other
sites such as houses and offices where space is a constraint, use
of the aforesaid conventional dispensing method is limited.
[0004] The dispensing method mentioned above also is widely adopted
on drinking water equipment commonly used in houses to supply cold,
warm and hot water, or coin-operated beverage vending machine. The
equipment usually has only one dispensing outlet and one fetched
deck for holding one container, and a control console to control
delivery of various different materials. Take the drinking water
equipment as an example, by placing a cup on the fetched deck
beneath the water outlet, and pressing a button or an LCD touch
panel on the control console to select a desired option, cold, warm
or hot water can be dispensed. Such an approach can provide
multiple outputs of different types in a minimum space. However, it
requires the control console which is an extra facility. The
commonly used control console is an LCD touch panel, button switch
or the like. Compared with the conventional dispensers previously
discussed, an additional electronic or mechanical control console
is needed. The cost is higher. Moreover, different control consoles
have different designs and interfaces that often make users
confused when in use, especially children and aged people. Internal
wiring of the machine also is more complex. When installed in a
damp environment for a prolonged period of time, the life span of
the machine is shorter.
[0005] In short, the dispensing method of the conventional ice
makers or beverage machines often results in a bulky machine, or a
higher cost at a smaller size, and is more difficult to use or
easily affected by a damp environment and results in a shorter life
span. There are still rooms for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to
provide a dispensing method to solve the disadvantages of the
aforesaid conventional dispensing method used on ice makers or
beverage machines, such as bulky size, higher production cost,
complex operation and shorter life span in a damp environment.
[0007] To achieve the foregoing object, the dispensing method of
the invention includes basic steps as follow:
[0008] S1: defining a fetched zone for holding one container such
as a cup, a jug or the like;
[0009] S2: generating a judgment signal varying according to
different fetched locations of the container positioned in the
fetched zone; and
[0010] S3: determining to dispense material from a cluster of
multiple dispensing units or one of them to the container according
to the judgment signal.
[0011] In order to make more accurate judgment of the container
position, the previous step of recognizing the container positioned
on a targeted fetched location in the fetched zone includes
additional steps as follow:
[0012] S21: getting a fetched location of the container in the
fetched zone;
[0013] S22: triggering a time interval when the container is
positioned at the fetched location, and defining the triggering
time as a start time, and the elapsed time of the time interval as
an end time; and
[0014] S23: restarting triggering of the start time of the time
interval when the fetched location of the container is being
changed before the end time is reached; and judging the container
being positioned at the targeted fetched location when the end time
is reached.
[0015] Compared with the conventional methods, the method of the
invention provides many benefits, notably: [0016] 1. The dispensing
method employs only one dispensing outlet and can judge different
positioned locations of the container to determine dispensing of
different materials, thus greatly reduces the size of dispensers.
[0017] 2. By judging the different positioned locations of the
container to directly control dispensing of different materials, no
control console is needed, hence the cost is lower. And complex
control and signal wiring also are unnecessary. It also can
function as desired in a damp environment intact and is more
durable. [0018] 3. By judging the different positioned locations of
the container to control dispensing of different materials,
operation is simplified.
[0019] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and
advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the
following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the method of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the procedures of confirming a
targeted fetched location according to the invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a rear view of an embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 5A is a sectional view of an embodiment of the
invention in operating condition-1.
[0025] FIG. 5B is a sectional view of an embodiment of the
invention in operating condition-2.
[0026] FIG. 5C is a sectional view of an embodiment of the
invention in operating condition-3.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The present invention aims to provide a dispensing method
for ice makers. Please refer to FIG. 1 for the process flow of the
invention. It includes procedures as follow: step S1: defining a
fetched zone for holding one container; S2: generating a judgment
signal varying according to different fetched locations of the
container positioned in the fetched zone; and S3: determining to
dispense material from a cluster of multiple dispensing units or
one of them to the container according to the judgment signal. To
facilitate discussion, also refer to the embodiments below for more
details of the invention.
[0030] Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4 for an embodiment of the
invention. It has a fetched zone 20 which is a space located
beneath a first dispensing unit 31 and a second dispensing unit 32.
After finishing the aforesaid step S1, define the first dispensing
unit 31 for water outlet and the second dispensing unit 32 for ice
cube outlet, and also define the different fetched locations of a
container 10 (also referring to FIG. 5A) in the fetched zone at a
first location, a second location and a third location to deliver
respectively water, ice cubes and water plus ice cubes. In this
embodiment, a mechanical driving means 41 is used to trigger a
switch means 42 to get the fetched location of the container 10
(also referring to FIG. 5A) in the fetched zone 20. As shown in
FIG. 5A, when in use and a user wants to get a desired material,
the user moves the container 10 to press the mechanical driving
means 41 at the first location. Then the switch means 42 is
triggered by the mechanical driving means 41 to generate a first
judgment signal of the first location to drive the first dispensing
unit 31 to deliver water to the container 10. Referring to FIG. 5B,
when the user moves the container 10 to press the mechanical
driving means 41 at the second location, the switch means 42 is
triggered by the mechanical driving means 41 to generate a second
judgment signal of the second location to drive the second
dispensing unit 32 to deliver ice cubes to the container 10.
Referring to FIG. 5C, when the user further moves the container 10
to press the mechanical driving means 41 at the third location, the
switch means 42 is triggered by the mechanical driving means 41 to
generate a third judgment signal of the third location to drive the
first and second dispensing units 31 and 32 at the same time to
deliver water and ice cubes to the container 10. This embodies the
processes of steps S2 and S3 previously discussed.
[0031] In order to facilitate regulation of triggering sensitivity
of the switch means 42 driven by the mechanical driving means 41 to
generate start/stop operations of the first dispensing unit 31 and
second dispensing unit 32 when the container 10 is positioned at
the first, second and third locations, the step S2 may further
include time control procedures as follow. Refer to FIG. 2 for the
procedures of confirming a targeted fetched location of the
container according to the invention. It includes: S21: getting a
fetched location of the container in the fetched zone; S22:
triggering a time interval when the container is positioned at each
fetched location, and defining the triggering time as a start time,
and the elapsed time of the time interval as an end time; and S23:
restarting triggering of the start time of the time interval when
the fetched location of the container is being changed before the
end time is reached; and judging the container being positioned at
the targeted fetched location when the end time is reached. Take an
example for getting ice cubes, referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B. First,
the container 10 passes through the first location and the
mechanical driving means 41 triggers the switch means 42 to get the
fetched location of the container 10 at step S21; trigger an time
interval at step S22, and proceed judgment at step S23; as user's
intention is to get ice cubes, the container 10 is further moved
from the first location to the second location while the end time
is not yet reached, this is a step S233; and step S22 is resumed to
restart triggering of the time interval, and the container 10 is
defined at the second location for fetching ice cubes until the end
time of the time interval is reached, and the judgment signal is
sent to drive the second dispensing unit 32 to deliver ice cubes
until the container is filled. Then the container 10 can be
removed. Another step S232 also may be included to judge whether
the mechanical driving means 41 is being mistakenly triggered. In
the event that the user mistakenly triggers the mechanical driving
means 41, usually a reflective action is ensued to fetch the
container 10; the triggered time interval ends as the container 10
is removed from the fetched zone 20, and the rest procedures are
suspended without executing. As a result, the method of the
invention simplifies user operation and also is comprehensive to
take into accounts of situations that might occur. The whole
equipment is compact and can better meet user's requirements.
[0032] The embodiment set forth above aims for disclosure purpose,
and is not the limitation of the invention. For instance, the
approach of getting the fetched location of the container 10 in the
fetched zone 20 to trigger the switch means 42 through the
mechanical driving means 41 may also be accomplished by adopting an
infrared sensor 50 as shown in FIG. 6, or a pressure sensor means
60 as shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, modifications of the disclosed
embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof
may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended
claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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