Abstract:
An auger apparatus for conveying ice, together with the auger itself and an apparatus for storing ice in a storage bin which uses such an auger apparatus is provided. The auger is disposed in a tube, and does not require cylindrical bearings at its ends. The auger is rotationally molded, of one-piece hollow molded construction, preferably of a plastic such as polyethylene.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Auger apparatus for conveying ice are used in many situations, wherein ice is periodically made or generated and, for example, is delivered or dropped into a storage bin, where it resides until the need arises to use the ice. 
   In the past, such augers are rotatably mounted in a dispensing tube, via cylindrical bearings disposed about the auger shaft at each end of the tube. 
   It has been commonplace that such augers are comprised of welded stainless steel, and, where such augers are used to convey ice and other food products, the profile and finish of the auger must meet certain governmental requirements, to prevent ice and other food products from adhering to the surface of the auger, in various pores or rough spots on the surface of the auger. In the past, such auger surfaces were required to have the equivalent of a 100 grit finish or better, where stainless steel was the material from which the auger was made. 
   Additionally, steel augers have been expensive to manufactures and to operate. Simply the weight of the steel auger required heavy bearings at each end to carry and guide the auger. Where ice or other food products were to be handled by the auger, when it was necessary to clean the auger, the weight of the auger made it cumbersome at such times as the auger was removed for cleaning. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to an auger and auger apparatus, as well as an apparatus for storing ice that uses an auger, wherein the auger is hollow and is molded and lightweight. The auger is molded rotationally out of plastic and requires no separate grinding and finishing operations. Because it is disposed in an auger tube and is lightweight and has broad flight lands, no bearings are required to carry the auger at either end. The rotation of the auger within the auger tube is guided by the auger tube. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel auger for conveying ice and other food materials, wherein the auger is of one-piece molded construction. 
   It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein the auger is molded from plastic, via rotational molding techniques. 
   It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above objects, wherein the cross-section through the flight of an auger is within the range of 35° to 42°, when measured through the flight and intersecting the shaft axis. 
   It is a further object to accomplish the above object, wherein the included angle is substantially 38°. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a flat zone at the edge of the flight, to provide a bearing surface for the auger in its tube. 
   It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above objects, wherein the auger shaft is free of any cylindrical bearings disposed thereabout. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood upon reading the following brief descriptions of the drawing figures, detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments, and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an auger conveyor apparatus of this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary top perspective view of the upper end of an ice bin apparatus and auger conveyor tube for receiving an auger of this invention, as viewed generally along the plane II—II of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical perspective view of an auger tube and auger disposed therein, in exploded illustration. 
       FIG. 4  is a vertical perspective view of an auger of the type that is used with the auger tube of FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of an auger of the type of  FIG. 4 , longitudinally arranged. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of the auger of  FIG. 5 , taken generally along the line VI—VI of FIG.  5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view of the auger of  FIG. 5 , taken generally along the line VII—VII of FIG.  5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to  FIG. 1 , wherein there is shown the apparatus  10  including an upper ice bin  11  and a lower ice bin apparatus  12 . 
   The ice making apparatus (not shown) may be of any conventional type, in that the particular ice making apparatus does not form an essential part of the present invention. Generally, the ice making apparatus will, however, be a suitable type of apparatus for making ice in the form of ice cubes, pieces, particles, or nuggets, and will generally be disposed above the upper bin  11 , although, in the alternative, the same could be disposed at a location remote from the ice bin  11 , with a suitable delivery system for delivering ice into the ice storage area provided by the bin  11 . However, preferably, the ice making apparatus will be disposed generally above the bin  11 , such that ice may pass to the bin  11 , via gravity, and then enter the bin  12 , via gravity. 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , it will be seen that bin  9  has front, left and right side and back walls  13 - 16 , as shown, and an open upper end  17 , for receipt of ice therein. 
   Ice agitators  18  and  20  are provided in the bin  9 . 
   Agitator  18  comprises a pair of left and right wire augers  21  and  22 , preferably generally helically constructed, as shown, each carried by the same agitator bar  23 , such that, when the shaft  25  is rotated in the clockwise direction shown at  24 , the bar  23  which is connected to the shaft  25  will likewise rotate in the clockwise direction, such that the augers  21 , 22  will tend to drive ice toward the opposite auger, such that ice pieces or particles will tend to move toward the center of the bin  9 , between the walls,  14 ,  15 . 
   The bar  23  may likewise carry radial rods  26 ,  27 , generally configured as shown, to also facilitate ice breakup. 
   The agitator  20  likewise comprises a pair of oppositely arranged, preferably helically configured wire augers  31 , 32 , carried by the bar  33 , that is likewise driven by shaft  34 , for rotation in a clockwise direction  35 , for conveying ice toward a central zone  36  generally near the back wall  16 , at the lower end of the bin  9 . The augers,  31 , 32 , like the augers,  21 , 22 , being arranged in pairs carried by their respective bars  33 , 23 , are disposed such that the thrust loads resulting from conveying ice are caused to oppose each other. 
   It will also be noted that the sloped bottom wall  37  near the front wall  13  and the curved bottom wall portions  38 , 40  near the back wall  16  are configured to cooperate with the augers of the respective agitators  18 ,  20 , to cooperate in moving ice pieces or particles toward the central back or rear zone  36 . 
   The agitator shafts  25 ,  34  are mounted in appropriate bearings  29   a ,  29   b ,  29   e  and  29   g , carried on opposite frame members  44 , on each side of the frame, outside respective side walls  15 ,  14  of bin  9 . In this regard, it will be noted that in  FIG. 1  a sheet metal cover  43  is shown as being open, for the sake of clarity. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , it will be seen that the auger inlet  63  is shown, for receiving ice therein between adjacent revolutions  63   a ,  63   b  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the spiral and preferable, helical flight  69  of the auger  65 . It will be noted that, in the illustration of  FIG. 3 , the auger  65  is raised somewhat within the tube  62 , to illustrate the features of the lower end of the assembly of  FIG. 3 , but that, in normal operation, the lower revolution  63   a  of the auger  65  will be disposed vertically lower than that shown in  FIG. 3 , such that the thrust end  80  will be disposed against the thrust plate  81 , the legs  82  of which will be disposed in and carried by slotted openings  83  of end cap  84  and that suitable threaded rods  85  will fasten the assembly of  FIG. 3  by engagement in openings  86  of end cap  84 . The upper end will generally have a rectangular cross-section  87  for driving engagement of the auger  65 , as described above, such that the auger  65  will be driven about its longitudinal axis  90  as the auger  65  is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow  91 , as shown in FIG.  5 . 
   The continuous flight  69  of the auger  65  thus, when rotationally driven, will operate such that the forward, active delivery surface  92  will engage ice and push it from left to right as viewed in FIG.  5 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , a transverse cross-section taken through the flight  69 , transverse to the active and passive surfaces  92  and  93  respectively, along the line VI—VI, and intersecting the shaft axis  90 , will show that the included angle “b” between the surfaces  92 , 93 , will be within the range of 35° to 42°, and most preferably will be substantially 38°. 
   Most preferably, the angle “c” between the surface  92  and the vertical as shown in  FIG. 6  will be 19°, just as the angle “d” between the surface  93  and the vertical will also most preferably be 19°. 
   With reference to section VI—VI of  FIG. 5 , and as shown in  FIG. 6 , the cross-section throught the flight of the auger is within the range of 35° to 42°, with the section plane VI—VI being normal to the flight path. 
   It will be noted that there is a flat, shown as dimension “e” in  FIG. 7 , on the edge of the flight, throughout its length. This flight flat defines a surface of revolution which provides a bearing surface when the auger is disposed in its tube, for rotation therein. Preferably, the dimension “e” is about ½ inch to provide adequate bearing surface. Also, as part of the rotational molding process, in order to be hollow inside the auger at such locations, some thickness for this dimension “e” is required. 
   It will be seen from  FIGS. 6 and 7  that the continuous flight and auger shaft are of one piece hollow molded construction. They are rotationally molded as a unit, from a plastic material, such as polyethylene. 
   It would thus be seen that the goals of the present invention as set forth in the objects and summary of the invention, as well as in the appended claims, are complied with. It would be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction, as well as in the use and operation of the apparatus of the present invention, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.