Abstrict A modular ice crusher assembly for use in conjunction with an ice
storage unit can be easily removed for cleaning or maintenance.
Two parallel brackets are used to mount and support the ice crusher
below the discharge opening for the ice storage unit. A release
mechanism allows the ice crusher to slide relative to the brackets
between a first position in which the inlet chute of the ice crusher
is in vertical alignment with the opening of the ice storage unit
for receiving ice to be chipped, and a second position in which
the ice crusher can be removed for cleaning or service. For example,
the release mechanism can consist of a series of pins extending
laterally outward from the ice crusher housing that slideably engage
a corresponding series of inverted L-shaped slots in the brackets.
During normal operation, the ice crusher is held in position below
the ice storage unit because the pins are supported in the horizontal
portions of the slots. However, if the user slides the ice crusher
forward, the pins will slide until they enter the vertical portions
of the slot, and at this point the ice crusher will drop off the
brackets. A sliding gate permits the user to selectively open and
close the inlet chute to the ice storage unit and thereby control
the flow of ice into the ice crusher.
Claims I claim:
1. An ice crusher assembly for use in conjunction with an ice storage
unit having an opening for removal of ice from the ice storage unit,
said ice crusher assembly comprising:
an ice crusher;
a bracket mounted to the ice storage unit supporting said ice crusher
below the opening of the ice storage unit;
a gate selectively opening and closing the opening of the ice storage
unit; and
release means for allowing said ice crusher to slide relative to
said bracket between a first position in alignment with the opening
of the ice storage unit for receiving ice to be chipped, and a second
position in which said ice crusher can be removed from said bracket.
2. The ice crusher assembly of claim 1 wherein said release means
comprise a plurality of inverted L-shaped slots in said bracket
and a corresponding plurality of pins extending from said ice crusher
for engaging said slots.
3. The ice crusher assembly of claim 1 wherein said release means
comprise a plurality of L-shaped slots in said ice crusher and a
corresponding plurality of pins extending from said bracket for
engaging said slots.
4. The ice crusher assembly of claim 1 wherein said ice crusher
further comprises an inlet chute and wherein said bracket comprises
two parallel bracket tracks mounted on opposite sides of the opening
of the ice storage unit for engaging said inlet chute.
5. The ice crusher assembly of claim 4 further comprising two parallel
gate tracks extending on opposing sides of said inlet chute for
sliding engagement with said gate.
6. An ice crusher assembly for use in conjunction with an ice storage
unit having an opening for removal of ice from the ice storage unit,
said ice crusher assembly comprising:
an ice crusher having an inlet chute;
two parallel bracket tracks mounted on opposing sides of the opening
to the ice storage unit supporting said ice crusher below the opening
of the ice storage unit;
release means for allowing said ice crusher to slide between a
first position in alignment with the opening of the ice storage
unit for receiving ice to be chipped, and a second position in which
said ice crusher can be removed from said bracket tracks;
two parallel gate tracks on opposing sides of said inlet chute;
and
a gate in sliding engagement between said gate tracks to selectively
open and close said inlet chute.
7. The ice crusher assembly of claim 6 wherein said release means
comprise a plurality of L-shaped slots in said inlet chute and a
corresponding plurality of pins extending from said bracket tracks
for engaging said slots.
8. The ice crusher assembly of claim 6 wherein said release means
comprise a plurality of inverted L-shaped slots in said bracket
tracks and a corresponding plurality of pins extending from said
ice crusher for engaging said slots.
9. An ice crusher assembly for use in conjunction with an ice storage
unit having a lower opening to allow ice to drop from the ice storage
unit, said ice crusher assembly comprising:
an ice crusher having an inlet chute for receiving ice to be chipped;
two parallel bracket tracks mounted on opposing sides of the lower
opening of the ice storage unit;
a plurality of L-shaped slots extending from at least one of said
ice crusher and said bracket tracks;
a corresponding plurality of pins extending from at least one of
said ice crusher and said bracket tracks in sliding engagement with
said slots, said ice crusher sliding between a first position in
vertical alignment with the lower opening of the ice storage unit
for receiving ice to be chipped and a second position in which said
ice crusher can be removed from said bracket tracks;
two parallel gate tracks on opposing sides of said inlet chute;
and
a gate in sliding engagement along said gate tracks to selectively
open and close said inlet chute to said ice crusher.
10. The ice crusher assembly of claim 9 wherein said slots are
in said ice crusher and said pins extend from said bracket tracks.
11. The ice crusher assembly of claim 9 wherein said slots are
in said bracket tracks and said pins extend from said ice crusher.
12. An ice crusher assembly for use in conjunction with an ice
storage unit having a lower opening to allow ice to drop from the
ice storage unit, said ice crusher assembly comprising:
an ice crusher having an inlet chute for receiving ice to be chipped;
two parallel bracket tracks mounted on opposing sides of the lower
opening of the ice storage unit and having a plurality of inverted
L-shaped slots; and
a plurality of pins extending laterally outward from said ice crusher
in sliding engagement with said slots, said ice crusher sliding
between a first position in which said inlet chute is in vertical
alignment with the lower opening of the ice storage unit for receiving
ice to be chipped and a second position in which said ice crusher
can be removed from said bracket tracks.
13. The ice crusher assembly of claim 12 further comprising:
two parallel gate tracks on opposing sides of said inlet chute;
and
a gate in sliding engagement along said gate tracks to selectively
open and close said inlet chute.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of ice crushers.
More specifically, the present invention discloses a modular ice
crusher that can be attached to a conventional ice storage unit
of the type widely used in restaurants and institutional kitchens.
2. Statement of the Problem
Ice storage units have been widely used in restaurants and institutional
kitchens for many years to hold and dispense ice. One common type
of ice storage unit consists of storage bin that is supported a
distance above the floor so that a removable cart can be placed
beneath the unit to receive ice. The ice storage unit often includes
an ice maker for creating ice cubes and delivering them into the
storage compartment within the unit. The storage compartment is
usually insulated to help maintain a temperature below freezing
within the storage compartment. The ice storage unit includes a
lower opening with a gate mechanism for dispensing ice into the
cart. Several types of gate mechanism are in use, but the most common
is simply a planar gate that slides between two parallel tracks
mounted on opposing sides of the bottom opening to the ice storage
unit. The ice storage unit may also be equipped with hinged front
doors for additional access to the ice stored within.
Conventional ice storage units dispense ice in the form that it
is created by the ice maker within the unit (i.e., usually ice cubes).
However, it is sometimes more desirable to dispense crushed ice
or chipped ice for use in cold drinks or as a bed for a salad bar,
produce, or meats. Therefore, a need exists for an ice storage unit
that can dispense crushed ice as well as ice cubes.
If an ice crusher is attached to an ice storage unit, health and
sanitation requirements dictate that the ice crusher must be readily
accessible for periodic cleaning and maintenance. This can be difficult
to achieve with a conventional ice storage unit, given the space
constraints within the ice storage bin and under the unit.
The prior art in the field of ice crushers and ice storage units
includes the following:
______________________________________ Inventor Patent No. Issue
Date ______________________________________ Nigro 3135101 June
2 1964 Barnard 4228923 Oct. 21 1980 Yingst 4706466 Nov. 17
1987 Jameson 5211030 May 18 1993 Landers 5397032 Mar. 14 1995
______________________________________
Nigro discloses a flexible tray assembly for freezing and storing
ice chips. A division plate 50 separates the two compartments within
the tray assembly. This division plate is removed by pulling its
handle 59.
Landers discloses a drop-in beverage and ice dispenser with a removable
drain pan shown.
Barnard shows an ice maker dispenser with a removable chute. An
interlock mechanism prevents the "closure member" from
opening when the chute is removed from the ice maker for servicing,
etc.
Jameson discloses a ice storage unit that has a gate mechanism
for releasing ice into a portable cart below. The gate includes
drainage means for directing any ice melt from the storage area
into a drain at the rear of the unit. The cart also includes a front-actuated
draining mechanism to discharge any ice melt accumulating in the
cart into the drain at the rear of the unit.
Yingst et al. disclose an under-the-counter ice making machine
with a removable freezer compartment. The freezer compartment slides
forward relative to the base for cleaning or repair.
3. Solution to the Problem
None of the prior art references uncovered in the search show a
removable ice crusher for an ice storage unit that includes both
a gate to control the flow of ice from the storage bin into the
ice crusher, and a release mechanism that allows the ice crusher
to be easily removed from the ice storage unit for cleaning and
maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a modular ice crusher assembly for use
in conjunction with an ice storage unit. Two parallel brackets are
used to mount and support the ice crusher below the discharge opening
for the ice storage unit. A release mechanism allows the ice crusher
to slide relative to the brackets between a first position in which
the inlet chute to the ice crusher is in vertical alignment with
the opening of the ice storage unit for receiving ice to be chipped,
and a second position in which the ice crusher can be removed for
cleaning or service. For example, the release mechanism can consist
of a series of pins extending laterally outward from ice crusher
housing that slideably engage a corresponding series of inverted
L-shaped slots in the brackets. During normal operation, the ice
crusher is held in position below the ice storage unit because the
pins are supported in the horizontal portions of the slots. However,
if the user slides the ice crusher forward, the pins will slide
until they enter the vertical portions of the slot, and at this
point the ice crusher will drop off the brackets. A sliding gate
permits the user to selectively open and close the inlet chute to
the ice storage unit and thereby control the flow of ice into the
ice crusher.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an ice
crusher assembly that can be readily fitted to a conventional ice
storage unit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice crusher
assembly that can be easily removed from the ice storage unit for
cleaning or service.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an ice
crusher assembly that can be easily retrofitted to existing ice
storage units with only minimal modifications.
These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present
invention will be more readily understood in view of the following
detailed description and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the entire assembly. showing
the path the ice 14 from the storage bin 10 through the ice crusher
assembly.
FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the entire assembly
corresponding to FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the ice crusher assembly
with the gate 50 closed.
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the ice crusher assembly
corresponding to FIG. 3 with the gate 50 open.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the gate 50 and gate handle
52.
FIG. 6 is an exploded, front perspective view of the bracket tracks
30 and 31 gate 50 and ice crusher 20.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the ice
storage bin 10 bracket tracks 30 and 31 gate 50 and ice crusher
20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2 front and side views are provided showing
the entire ice storage unit with the ice crusher assembly 20. The
ice storage unit has an ice storage bin 10 that is supported a distance
above the floor so that a removable cart 18 can be placed beneath
the unit to receive ice. The ice storage unit often includes an
ice maker for creating ice cubes 14 and delivering them into the
storage bin 10. The ice storage bin 10 is insulated and may also
include a refrigeration unit to maintain a temperature below freezing
within the ice storage bin 10. The ice storage bin 10 has a lower
opening 12 that allows ice 14 to drop into the ice crusher assembly
20 and cart 18 below, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 the ice crusher 20 has a number of rotating
blades 22 mounted on a shaft that is driven by an electric motor
24. A vertical inlet chute 26 leads into the ice crusher assembly
20. Under normal operating conditions, the upper opening of this
inlet chute 26 is aligned with lower opening 12 of the ice storage
bin 10 and directs the flow of ice 14 through the ice crusher blades
22 and into the cart 18. The entire ice crusher assembly is contained
within a compact, modular housing for increased safety and to facilitate
removal and cleaning.
The ice crusher assembly 20 is mounted below this lower opening
12 by means of two parallel bracket tracks 30 31 secured on opposing
sides of the lower opening 12 of the ice storage unit. For example,
the bracket tracks 30 31 can be fastened to the underside of the
ice storage compartment by means of a series of bolts 32.
In the one embodiment of the present invention, the bracket tracks
30 31 include a series of inverted L-shaped slots 35 as shown
in FIG. 6. A corresponding series of pins 40 extend laterally outward
from the upper section of the ice crusher housing and engage these
slots 35. The arrangement of the slots and pins could be reversed
so that the pins extend laterally inward from the bracket tracks
to engage L-shaped slots in the ice crusher housing.
During normal operation, the pins remain in the horizontal portions
of the slot, and thereby support the ice crusher 20 in beneath the
ice storage unit 10. In this first position, the upper opening of
the inlet chute 26 to the ice crusher 20 is vertically aligned with
the lower opening 12 of the ice storage unit 10 to receiving ice
14 to be chipped, as shown in FIG. 2. To remove the ice crusher,
the user manually slides the ice crusher 20 forward a small distance
to a second position in which the pins 40 enter the vertical portions
of the L-shaped slots 35. Once the pins 40 are aligned in the vertical
portions of the slots, the ice crusher 20 will drop off the bracket
tracks 30 31 as shown in FIG. 6. The operator can manually support
the ice crusher 20 when it is released from the bracket tracks to
prevent from crashing to the floor.
In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the pins 40 are threaded
and wing nuts 41 are employed to securely hold the pins in horizontal
portions of the L-shaped slots 35 during normal operation. The ice
crusher produces substantial vibrations and jolts that might otherwise
cause the pins 40 to accidentally slide relative to the bracket
tracks 30 31. The wing nuts 41 must be manually loosened before
the ice crusher 20 can be removed from the bracket tracks 30 and
31.
It should be expressly understood that other release mechanisms
could also be substituted for the pins and slots, such as a system
of sliding tracks similar to those used for kitchen drawers and
desk drawers, that would allow the ice crusher 20 to slide forward
and drop off the bracket tracks 30 31. Another alternative would
be to use clips or removable pins.
The movable gate 50 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The gate is held
between two parallel gate tracks 60 61 extending along opposing
sides of the upper portion of the ice crusher housing as shown in
FIGS. 3 4 and 7. The gate 50 can slide along the gate tracks 60
and 61 to selectively open and close the lower opening 12 of the
ice storage unit and thereby control the flow of ice 14 into the
ice crusher 20. The closed position for the gate 50 is shown in
FIG. 3 and the open position is depicted in FIG. 4. The gate 50
can be a substantially planar piece of sheet metal as shown in the
drawings. In the preferred embodiment, the gate 50 is slanted slightly
rearward to cause water draining from the ice storage bin to flow
into a drain at the rear of the unit. Alternatively, the gate 50
could be equipped with rearward sloping draining channels to accomplish
the same result.
A handle 52 extends across the front of the gate 50 for easier
manual operation of the gate assembly. The handle 52 can be folded
as depicted in FIG. 4 for convenience when the gate 50 pulled forward
to the open position.
An interlock mechanism 28 limits the forward range of motion of
the gate during normal use, and thereby prevents the gate 50 from
being accidentally pulled so far forward that it is no longer engaged
by the gate tracks 60 and 61. In the embodiment shown in the FIGS.
3 4 and 5 a tab 53 extends upward from one side of the gate 50.
A latch 28 with a sliding pin is mounted to the front of the ice
crusher housing. In its normal extended position, the latch pin
blocks the tab 53 and prevents the gate 50 from sliding forward
beyond the point of contact. The latch pin can be manually retracted
to permit removal of the gate 50 from the gate tracks 60 and 61
for cleaning.
The gate assembly normally remains in place when the ice crusher
20 is removed from the bracket tracks 30 31 to prevent ice 14 from
spilling out of the ice storage bin 10. However, a major advantage
of the present invention is the ability to separately and independently
remove either the ice crusher or the gate assembly.
The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the
present invention. Other arrangements or embodiments, not precisely
set forth, could be practiced under the teachings of the present
invention and as set forth in the following claims. |