Abstract:
A system and methods for sanitation of ice storage equipment. An ozone generator provides a sanitizing agent comprised of a mixture of ambient air and ozone. The sanitizing agent is circulated through an ice storage bin. The sanitizing agent cleanses interior surfaces of the ice storage bin and also cleanses surfaces of an ice dispenser that dispenses ice from the ice storage bin.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/523,037, filed on Aug. 12, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to a system and method for sanitation of ice storage and dispensing equipment. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    A self-contained ice machine with dispenser provides a convenient source of ice (and typically water) for dispensing into cups or serving containers. These machines are commonly used in healthcare facilities to serve ice and water to patients. 
         [0004]    Sanitation of the ice producing evaporator, ice storage bin, and dispensing mechanism typically requires manual application of a sanitizing solution to these components. Since all of the ice must be emptied from the bin and partial disassembly of the machine is required to access the interior of the bin, the frequency of sanitation is often on the order of weeks or months. Microorganisms can be introduced into the storage bin through gaps in the joints of the bin, the dispensing outlet, and through the ice produced by the evaporator, causing loss of sanitation during the periods between sanitizing. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is a need for a system and method of cleaning an ice storage and dispenser equipment without disassembly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    An embodiment of a sanitation system for ice storage equipment according to the present disclosure comprises an ice storage bin comprising an ice receiving inlet, an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. An ozone generator, which is in fluid communication with the ice storage bin, circulates a sanitizing agent through the ice storage bin via the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet. The sanitizing agent comprises a mixture of ozone and air that sanitizes one or more interior surfaces of the ice storage bin and of any ice disposed within the ice storage bin. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment of the sanitation system of the present disclosure, a supply duct connects the ozone generator to the airflow inlet and a return duct connects the airflow outlet to the ozone generator. The sanitizing agent circulates through the ice storage bin via the supply duct and the return duct. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment of the sanitation system of the present disclosure, a mixing Tee has an outlet connected to the ozone generator, a first inlet connected to the return duct and a second inlet connected to ambient. First and second orifices are associated with the first and second inlets, respectively, and wherein the orifices are sized to control flow rates in the first and second inlets so as to develop a positive pressure level within the ice storage bin. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the sanitation system of the present disclosure, an ice dispenser is disposed within the ice storage bin and comprises a nozzle disposed to dispense ice via an ice exit of the ice storage bin. A vent is disposed in the ice storage bin to allow a small portion of the sanitizing agent to flow through the gap to sanitize surfaces of the ice dispenser and of the ice exit. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the sanitation system of the present disclosure, one or more seals are disposed to prevent leakage of the sanitizing agent from the ice storage bin except for the vent. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the sanitation system of the present disclosure, the airflow outlet is located above the airflow inlet. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment of the sanitation system of the present disclosure, the airflow outlet is located on a top of the ice storage bin and the airflow inlet is located on a side of the ice storage bin to direct a flow of the sanitizing agent from a bottom to a top of the ice storage bin to purge and replace non-ozone air within the ice storage bin with the sanitizing agent. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the sanitation system of the present disclosure, an ice making machine provides ice to the ice receiving inlet. 
         [0014]    An embodiment of a method for sanitizing ice storage and dispensing equipment according to the present disclosure comprises: 
         [0015]    circulating a sanitizing agent through an ice storage bin, wherein the sanitizing agent comprises a mixture of ozone and air that sanitizes one or more interior surfaces of the ice storage bin; and 
         [0016]    directing a flow of the sanitizing agent from a bottom to a top of the ice storage bin to purge and replace non-ozone air within the ice storage bin with the sanitizing agent. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the method for sanitizing ice storage and dispensing equipment according to the present disclosure the method further comprises: 
         [0018]    developing a positive pressure within the ice storage bin; and 
         [0019]    directing a small portion of the flow of the sanitizing agent through a vent to sanitize ice dispensing components of an ice dispenser that dispenses ice from the ice storage bin. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment of the method for sanitizing ice storage and dispensing equipment according to the present disclosure the flow of the sanitizing agent comprises a laminar flow of ozone containing air. 
         [0021]    An embodiment of a method for assembling ice storage equipment according to the present disclosure comprises: 
         [0022]    connecting an output of an ozone generator to an inlet of an ice storage bin with a first duct; 
         [0023]    connecting an output of a mixing Tee to an input of the ozone generator; and 
         [0024]    connecting an outlet of the ice storage bin to an input of the mixing Tee. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure 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: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a system and for sanitation of ice storage and dispensing equipment according to the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a system for sanitation of ice storage and dispensing equipment according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a system  20  of the present disclosure comprises an ice making apparatus  22 , an ice storage bin  24 , an ozone generator  26  and an ice dispenser  36  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Ice making apparatus  22  may be any apparatus that makes ice pieces. The ice pieces may have any desired shape such as cubes, nuggets, lumps, cylinders and the like. By way of example, ice making apparatus  22  is shown as an auger type ice making machine. A conveyance  28  is disposed to convey ice from ice making apparatus  22  to ice bin  24 . 
         [0030]    Ice storage bin  24  comprises an airflow inlet  30 , an airflow outlet  32 , an ice inlet  34  and an ice exit  38 . Ice inlet  34  is connected to conveyance  28 . Ice exit  38  is disposed at a location toward a bottom  40  of ice storage bin  24 . Preferably, ice exit  38  is disposed near airflow inlet  30 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , ice exit  38  is disposed in bottom  40  of ice storage bin  24 . A supply duct  42  connects airflow inlet  30  to an output  46  of ozone generator  26 . A return duct  44  connects airflow outlet  32  to an input  48  of ozone generator  26  by way of a mixing Tee duct  50 . Mixing Tee duct  50  has two inlets  60  and  62 . Inlet  60  is connected to return duct  44  and inlet  62  is arranged to receive a flow of ambient air. An orifice  52  is disposed in inlet  62 . An orifice  64  is disposed in inlet  60  or in return duct  44 . Orifices  52  and  64  are sized to control relative airflow rates in inlets  62  and  60  so as to achieve an inflow of ambient air within a desired range of a percentage of the overall flow rate for ozone generator  26 , and also to develop a positive pressure level within ice storage bin  24  that achieves a desired rate of outflow via a vent  56  to sanitize ice dispensing surfaces of ice dispenser  36 . 
         [0031]    Supply duct  42 , return duct  44  and mixing Tee duct  50  may be constructed of any suitable material for conveying a gas. For example, the material may be silicone rubber. 
         [0032]    Ice dispenser  36  is situated at a location near airflow inlet  30  of ice storage bin, e.g., near or at bottom  40 . Ice dispenser  36  comprises a nozzle  54  disposed in ice exit  38 . The outflow of ozone and ambient air from gap  56  continuously sanitizes surfaces of nozzle  54  and ice exit  38 . 
         [0033]    Ozone generator  26  may be any ozone generator that adds a small amount of ozone to ambient air taken in via orifice  52  to provide a sanitizing agent composed of a mixture of ozone and other ions and ambient air to supply duct  42  via output  46 . Ozone generator  26 , for example, is available from Biozone Scientific International. 
         [0034]    The sanitizing agent is formed by passing ambient air and ionized return air from return duct  44  through a source of energy of sufficient potential. The sanitizing agent is circulated by a fan through ice storage bin  24 . The ionized air is introduced into ice storage bin  24  via airflow inlet  30 , which is near bottom  40 . Return duct  44  is situated at a top of ice storage bin  24 , which ensures that the entire volume of ice and all internal food zone surfaces of ice storage bin  24  and ice dispenser  36  are exposed to the ionized air. This is due to the fact that ionized air is heavier than normal air, and the velocity of the ionized air through ice storage bin  24  is maintained very low, allowing laminar displacement of all ambient air from ice storage bin  24  by the ionized air. 
         [0035]    Ozone generator  26  produces ionized air such that the concentration of ozone and other ions is sufficient to ensure effective sterilization of the ice and ice storage bin  24 , but below the concentration level that would create any harmful effects to the users of the system or the materials used to construct ice storage bin  24  and ice dispenser  36 . 
         [0036]    Ice storage bin  24  is sealed with a set of seals with the exception of vent  56  at ice exit  38  at bottom  40  where ice dispenser  36  releases ice through nozzle  54 , which is designed to direct the ice into a cup or other container. Vent  56  allows a small flow of ionized air to continuously sanitize ice dispenser  36  and nozzle  54 . The set of seals is disposed to mating surfaces of ice storage bin  24  to control leakage of the ionized air between the inside and outside of ice storage bin  24 . Two of the seals are shown in  FIG. 2 , namely a seal  70  that seals a top of ice storage bin to conveyance  28  and a seal  72  that seals airflow inlet  30  to supply duct  42 . Other seals (not shown) seal airflow outlet  32  to return duct  44  and dispenser  36  to bottom  40 , except for vent  56 , which may be formed as a hole in a seal. 
         [0037]    Flow orifices  52  and  64  provide regulation of both the positive pressure within the foodzone volume and the volumetric flow rate available for the controlled leak path used to sanitize the spout of ice dispenser  36 . The use of heavier than air ozone as a sanitizing agent, combined with the physical location of the airflow inlet  30  and the airflow outlet  32 , ensures complete displacement of ambient air that does not contain ozone (non-ozone air) during operation of the sanitizing system. 
         [0038]    A method of the present disclosure maintains sanitary ice in ice storage bin  24  and ice dispenser  36 . A laminar flow of ozone containing air through a volume of ice in ice storage bin  24  is provided at a rate that ensures the concentration of ozone is within a range necessary to ensure efficacy for the entire volume of ice. A flow direction of the ozone laminar flow is controlled from bottom  40  to a top of ice storage bin  24  to ensure that all air in ice storage bin  24  is purged and replaced by ozone containing air. A positive pressure is developed in ice storage bin  24  and other food zone volumes (such as conveyance  28  and food zones of ice making apparatus  22 ) to ensure that any minor leakage paths in the seals for the boundary elements result in leakage of disinfected air to the outside. The positive pressure and a controlled leak path at ice exit  38  directs a small flow of ozone containing air over the inside surfaces of a dispensing spout of ice dispenser  36  to continuously sanitize those surfaces that contact ice during a dispense operation. 
         [0039]    Another method of the present disclosure assembles system  20 . This method comprises: 
         [0040]    connecting output  46  of ozone generator  26  to airflow inlet  30  of ice storage bin  24  with supply duct  42 ; 
         [0041]    connecting an output of mixing Tee  50  to an input  48  of ozone generator  26 ; and 
         [0042]    connecting airflow outlet  32  of ice storage bin  24  to an input of mixing Tee  50  with return duct  44 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in an alternate embodiment of the system of the present disclosure, the airflow inlet and outlet are both located on a top of the ice storage bin. 
         [0044]    The present disclosure 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 scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.