INTELLIGENT ICE SUPPLY DEVICE AND APPARATUS HAVING THE INTELLIGENT ICE SUPPLY DEVICE

An intelligent ice supply device and an apparatus with the intelligent ice supply device. The intelligent ice supply device includes an ice storage container, an agitating bar, a plurality of agitating plates, a plurality of ice partitions and a driving device. The agitating bar is rotatably located in the ice storage container. The agitating plates are horizontally connected to the agitating bar and located between an upper and a lower side portion of the agitating bar. The ice partitions are vertically connected to the lower side portions of the agitating bars. The driving device is connected to the upper side portion of the agitating bar and can be used to drive the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions to automatically supply ice cubes, and the driving device can also drive the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions to automatically eliminate ice jamming

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 111115545, filed on Apr. 25, 2022. The entire content of the above identified application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to an ice supply device, and more particularly to an intelligent ice supply device capable of automatically supplying ice cubes and automatically eliminating the phenomenon of ice jamming, and an apparatus having the intelligent ice supply device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The ice supply device has been widely used in restaurants, beverage stores, bars and other places where a large amount of ice cubes are consumed. However, the prior ice supply device can only supply ice cubes manually and cannot automatically eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming In addition, in order to increase the efficiency of beverage mixing, the inventor has invented an intelligent beverage mixing apparatus (such as patent number TWI737553), which can automatically collect various beverages and appropriate amount of ice cubes according to different needs of the user to form a prepared beverage supply to the user. It seems that there are no shortcomings, but based on the spirit of excellence, the inventor hopes that the improvement of the present disclosure can make the intelligent beverage mixing apparatus with the ice supply device more ideal and perfect.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In response to the above-referenced technical inadequacy, the present disclosure provides an intelligent ice supply device and an apparatus having the intelligent ice supply device, which can reduce and automatically eliminate the ice jamming phenomenon through structural design and control means.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one of the technical aspects adopted by the present disclosure is to provide an intelligent ice supply device configured to automatically supply ice cubes and automatically eliminate a phenomenon of ice jamming, which includes an ice storage container, an agitating bar, a plurality of agitating plates, a plurality of ice partitions and a driving device. The ice storage container has an ice outlet. The agitating bar is rotatably disposed in the ice storage container, and the agitating bar has an upper side portion and a lower side portion respectively disposed on two opposite sides thereof The agitating plates are horizontally connected to the agitating bar and disposed between the upper side portion and the lower side portion of the agitating bar. The ice partitions are vertically connected to the lower side portion of the agitating bar. The driving device is connected to the upper side portion of the agitating bar and configured to rotate the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions so as to automatically supply the ice cubes, and the driving device is configured to vibrate the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions so as to automatically eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one of the technical aspects adopted by the present disclosure is to provide an intelligent beverage mixing apparatus, which is used for mixing beverages and injecting the prepared beverages into at least one drinking cup. The intelligent beverage mixing apparatus has an intelligent ice supply device, which can add a proper amount of ice cubes to the beverage through the intelligent ice supply device, so that the prepared beverage can be automatically supplied to the user according to different needs of the user. Moreover, the intelligent beverage mixing apparatus includes an intelligent ice supply device and a material storage device. The material storage device includes at least one beverage barrel having at least one outlet, and the outlet is connected with the ice outlet of the intelligent ice supply device through a collecting mechanism. Furthermore, the intelligent ice supply device is configured to automatically supply ice cubes and automatically eliminate a phenomenon of ice jamming, which includes an ice storage container, an agitating bar, a plurality of agitating plates, a plurality of ice partitions and a driving device. The ice storage container has an ice outlet. The agitating bar is rotatably disposed in the ice storage container, and the agitating bar has an upper side portion and a lower side portion respectively disposed on two opposite sides thereof The agitating plates are horizontally connected to the agitating bar and disposed between the upper side portion and the lower side portion of the agitating bar. The ice partitions are vertically connected to the lower side portion of the agitating bar. The driving device is connected to the upper side portion of the agitating bar and configured to rotate the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions so as to automatically supply the ice cubes, and the driving device is configured to vibrate the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions so as to automatically eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, an ice receiving tray and at least one elastic baffle are vertically connected to a bottom of the ice receiving tray, and the agitating bar passes through the ice receiving tray so as to position the ice partitions below the at least one elastic baffle.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, the driving device has a driving module, a rotation angle sensing module and a control module, the driving module has a rotating shaft connected to the agitating bar, the rotation angle sensing module is configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotating shaft and correspondingly output a rotation angle data, and the control module is electrically connected to the driving module and the rotation angle sensing module; wherein the control module is configured to send a first control signal to the driving module, so that the driving module is configured to drive the rotating shaft to rotate a target rotation angle so as to control an amount of ice output; wherein an angle difference between an actual rotation angle of the rotating shaft and the target rotation angle is judged to perform position feedback control according to the rotation angle data so as to adjust the rotation angle of the rotating shaft to achieve precise positioning of the rotating shaft, and a phenomenon of ice jamming is judged according to the angle difference; wherein, when it is judged that there is the phenomenon of ice jamming, a second control signal is sent to the driving module to make the driving module drive the rotating shaft to vibrate and then rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, thereby synchronously driving the ice partitions rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, so that the ice cubes above the ice partitions are elastically pushed by the elastic baffle to eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, the control module is configured to judge whether the angle difference that is accumulated exceeds a predetermined maximum allowable value; wherein, when the angle difference that is accumulated exceeds the predetermined maximum allowable value, a third control signal is sent to the driving module, so that the driving module is configured to drive the rotating shaft to automatically return to a predetermined initial position.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, at least two of the elastic baffles are arranged side by side.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, each of the agitating plates has a horizontal piece and a slanted piece extending obliquely from a long side of the horizontal piece.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, each of the slanted pieces is provided with an elastic plate body.

Therefore, the intelligent ice supply device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure and the apparatus with the intelligent ice supply device can be provided with a plurality of ice partitions located on the lower side portion of the agitating bar so as to limit the amount of ice cubes falling from the intelligent ice supply device. In addition, the driving device can be connected to the upper side portion of the agitating bar, the driving device can be used to drive the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions to rotate, so as to automatically supply the ice cubes, and the driving device can also be used to drive the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions to vibrate, so as to automatically eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming Therefore, the intelligent ice supply device of the present disclosure can not only automatically supply the ice cubes according to different requirements, but also reduce and automatically eliminate ice jamming

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure provides an intelligent ice supply device (or an intelligent ice supply device), which can reduce the phenomenon of ice jamming and automatically eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming through structural design and control means.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2, the intelligent ice supply device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ice storage container1, an agitating bar2(or a stirring rod), a plurality of agitating plates3(or a plurality of stirring pieces or blades), a plurality of ice partitions4(or a plurality of ice-falling partitions), and a driving device5.

The ice storage container1can be configured for storing ice cubes. The bottom of the ice storage container1may have an ice outlet11through which ice cubes can fall out. The ice storage container1can be in the shape of a cylinder, but can also be in various shapes without limitation. In addition, the ice cubes in the ice storage container1are preferably in the shape of cubes, but they can also be in various shapes without limitation.

The agitating bar2is rotatably located in the ice storage container1, and the two opposite sides of the agitating bar2form an upper side portion21and a lower side portion22, respectively. Moreover, the agitating plates3are horizontally connected to the agitating bar2and located between the upper side portion21and the lower side portion22of the agitating bar2. The agitating plates3are preferably arranged at intervals from bottom to top (or arranged at intervals in the vertical direction). The agitating plates3of this embodiment can help to rotate and agitate the ice cubes in the ice storage container1to avoid sticking of the ice cubes.

The number of the ice partitions4of this embodiment is four, and they are arranged in pairs, but the number of the ice partitions4can also be two or eight, which is not limited in the present disclosure. The ice partitions4are vertically connected to the lower side portion22of the agitating bar2and positioned above the ice outlet11, and an ice separation space formed between any two adjacent ones of the ice partitions4can be used to define a predetermined amount of ice cubes that can be accommodated in the ice separation space.

The driving device5is connected to the upper side portion21of the agitating bar2, and can be used to drive the agitating bar2, the agitating plates3and the ice partitions4to rotate, so as to automatically supply the ice cubes, that is to say, when taking one ice separation space as a unit to rotate the ice partitions4, the positions of the ice separation spaces can be adjusted so as to provide a predetermined amount of ice cubes that is received in the corresponding ice separation space in advance. Moreover, the driving device5can be used to drive the agitating bar2, the agitating plates3and the ice partitions4to vibrate, so as to automatically eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming Furthermore, the driving device5may include a driving motor or a vibrating motor to drive the agitating bar2, the agitating plates3and the ice partitions4to rotate and vibrate. In addition, the driving device5can drive the agitating bar2, the agitating plates3and the ice partitions4to vibrate according to parameter settings or for a period of time, and the driving device5can also drive the agitating bar2, the agitating plates3and the ice partitions4to vibrate or rotate according to the detection results, so as to automatically eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIG.3toFIG.8, the intelligent ice supply device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ice storage container1, an agitating bar2, a plurality of agitating plates3, a plurality of ice partitions4, and a driving device5, and the intelligent ice supply device can also include an ice receiving tray6, an ice bucket7(such as an ice collection structure), an elastic baffle8, and an ice outlet tray9.

The top of the ice storage container1of this embodiment is provided with a top cover12as shown inFIG.3, and the side and bottom of the ice storage container1are respectively formed with an ice inlet13and an ice outlet11. Furthermore, the ice storage container1of this embodiment may have a cylindrical container body101, but may also be in the shape of a square barrel or other shapes, and the ice storage container1can also be an ice discharging pipe body102(or an ice outlet pipe body) that has a curved tubular shape or other shapes and is connected to the bottom of the container body101. The ice inlet13can be formed at the side of the container body101, and the ice outlet11can be formed at the bottom of the ice discharging pipe body102.

The ice receiving tray6is fixed in the ice storage container1as shown inFIG.3, and an ice storage space SP for storing the ice cubes can be formed between the ice receiving tray6and the top cover12. That is to say, the distance between the ice receiving tray6and the top cover12can determine the size of the ice storage space SP. The ice receiving tray6of this embodiment is in the shape of a circular dish, but it can also be in the shape of a square dish, and the ice receiving tray6is formed with a first ice outlet opening61(or a first ice falling opening) for the ice cubes to drop down to the ice bucket7as shown inFIG.5.

The ice bucket7is fixed below the ice receiving tray6as shown inFIG.3. The ice bucket7of the this embodiment is a hollow bucket body having two opening respectively formed at the upper and lower sides, which can be a hollow cylindrical bucket or a hollow square bucket. The ice receiving tray6above the ice bucket7can be used to hold and receive the ice cubes to prevent a large amount of ice cubes from directly falling into the ice bucket7. The ice receiving tray6of this embodiment is formed with a first ice outlet opening61having a semicircular shape, and a part of the ice cubes on the ice receiving tray6can drop down into the ice bucket7through the first ice outlet opening61.

The elastic baffle8is fixed vertically on the bottom of the ice receiving tray6as shown inFIG.4and extends downward into the ice bucket7, and an ice dropping channel TH (or an ice falling channel) corresponding to the first ice outlet opening61is formed between the wall of the elastic baffle8and the inner periphery of the ice bucket7as shown inFIG.5, so that a part of the ice cubes on the ice receiving tray6can pass through the first ice outlet opening61and fall down into the ice dropping channel TH. In this embodiment, there are two elastic baffles8arranged side by side, or there are four elastic baffles8that can also be arranged side by side. Moreover, a semi-circular ice dropping channel TH corresponding to the semi-circular first ice outlet opening61is formed between the walls of the two elastic baffles8and the inner periphery of the ice bucket7. It is worth mentioning that the elastic baffle8of this embodiment is made of elastic material (i.e., a material with a certain degree of resilience), and it is preferably a composite material based on a polymer main material containing a thermosetting elastomer (such as a silicone elastomer), so that it has the characteristics of high resilience, low deformation rate, and low embrittlement temperature.

The agitating bar2of the this embodiment passes through the ice receiving tray6, so that the ice partitions4are positioned below the elastic baffle8, and the inner edge of the ice partition4is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the agitating bar2, and the outer edge of the ice partition4can be connected to the inner wall surface of an outer frame401, so that the outer frame401is rotatably located in the ice bucket7and below the elastic baffle8. The outer frame401of this embodiment is preferably a circular outer frame, but may also be an oval or square outer frame. In this embodiment, there are four ice compartments PA (or ice receiving spaces), but not limited thereto, and at least one ice compartment PA can communicate with the ice dropping channel TH. That is to say, at least one ice compartment PA can be rotatably communicated to the ice dropping channel TH, so that the ice cubes can drop down from the ice dropping channel TH into at least one ice compartment PA. Moreover, the elastic baffle8can prevent a large number of the ice cubes from directly falling into these ice compartments PA. The ice compartment PA of this embodiment is a fan-shaped compartment, but it can also be a semi-circular or square compartment. The ice compartment PA of this embodiment can be formed between the outer frame401and the ice partitions4. Moreover, each agitating plate3of this embodiment has a horizontal piece31and a slanted piece32extending obliquely from the long side of the horizontal piece31.

The ice outlet tray9is fixed in the ice storage container1and located below the ice bucket7as shown inFIG.3. The ice outlet tray9of this embodiment is circular, but it can also be square, and the edge of the lower side portion22of the agitating bar2extends downward through the center of the ice outlet tray9. Moreover, as shown inFIG.6andFIG.7, the ice outlet tray9is formed with a second ice outlet opening91(or a second ice falling opening) for the ice cubes to fall downward through the second ice outlet opening91, which can communicate with at least one ice compartment PA and the ice outlet11under the ice storage container1, so that the ice cubes can be discharged to the outside of the ice storage container1through at least one ice compartment PA, the second ice outlet opening91, and the ice outlet11. In this embodiment, the ice outlet tray9has a fan-shaped second ice outlet opening91corresponding to the fan-shaped ice compartment PA.

The driving device5of this embodiment may have an installation casing501fixedly mounted on the top cover12as shown inFIG.4. Moreover, the driving device5may have a driving module51, a rotation angle sensing module52and a control module53as shown inFIG.8.

The driving module51may be or include a driving motor, the driving motor may be a stepping motor, and the upper side portion21of the agitating bar2may be a rotating shaft510connected to the stepping motor. In addition, a speed reducer (or reduction gears) can be further provided between the rotating shaft510of the stepping motor and the motor to provide low-speed, high-torque power output, thereby certainly controlling the rotation angle of the rotating shaft510and increasing the agitating torque.

The rotation angle sensing module52can be used to detect the rotation angle of the rotating shaft510of the motor, and correspondingly output a rotation angle data. The rotation angle sensing module52of this embodiment is, for example, or includes an optical encoder, but can also be a Hall effect magnetic encoder or other sensors, it is not limited in the present disclosure. Furthermore, the rotation angle sensing module52of this embodiment can be a high-resolution optical encoder, because a high-resolution optical encoder can generate more pulse signals, so that the detected rotation angle of the rotating shaft510can be finer. In addition, the driving module51and the rotation angle sensing module52of this embodiment can also be integrated together, so that the driving module51can be a stepping motor with an optical encoder.

The control module53is electrically connected to the driving module51and the rotation angle sensing module52. The control module53of this embodiment may be or include a microcontroller (MCU) or other controllers, and may be disposed inside or outside the installation casing501. Moreover, the control module53can send a first control signal to the driving module51according to an external command, so that the driving module51can drive the rotating shaft510to rotate a target rotation angle so as to control the amount of ice output (that is to say, when taking one ice compartment PA as a unit to rotate the ice compartments PA, the positions of the ice compartments PA can be adjusted so as to provide a predetermined amount of ice cubes that is received in the corresponding ice compartment PA in advance), and according to the read rotation angle data, the angle difference between the actual rotation angle of the rotating shaft510and the target rotation angle is judged to perform position feedback control, thereby adjusting the rotation angle of the rotating shaft510to achieve precise positioning of the rotating shaft510. Next, it can be judged according to the angle difference whether there is a phenomenon of ice jamming When it is judged that there is a phenomenon of ice jamming, a second control signal can be sent to the driving module51to make the driving module51drive the rotating shaft510to vibrate and then rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, thereby synchronously driving the ice partitions4rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, so that the ice cubes above the ice partitions4are elastically pushed by the elastic baffle8to eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming

Furthermore, even if it is judged that the phenomenon of ice jamming does not occur, the accumulated angle difference will form a cumulative error for a period of time, so that the control module53judges whether the accumulated angle difference exceeds a predetermined maximum allowable value, and when it is judged that the accumulated angle difference exceeds the predetermined maximum allowable value, the automatic return function can be activated (that is to say, the third control signal is sent to the driving module51, so that the driving module51drives the rotating shaft510to automatically return to the predetermined initial position).

Third Embodiment

Please refer toFIG.9, which is the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, and the differences are as follows.

In the this embodiment, the slanted piece32of each agitating plate3is also provided with an elastic plate body301made of elastic material, which can be used as a buffer to prevent a large amount of ice cubes from falling directly when the agitating plates3rotate to stir the ice cubes.

Fourth Embodiment

Please refer toFIG.10, which is the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, and the differences are as follows.

This embodiment provides an intelligent ice supply device, which is provided with a weight sensor14in the lower half of the ice storage container1, for example, under the ice outlet tray9, which can be connected with the control module53as shown inFIG.8so as to sense changes in the weight of the ice cubes, and output a weight data corresponding to the sensed weight changes to the control module53, so that the control module53can grasp the remaining amount of ice cubes in the ice storage container1at any time, so as to send a reminder message to timely notify and remind the user to replenish new ice cubes.

Fifth Embodiment

Please refer toFIG.11, which is the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, and the differences are as follows.

This embodiment provides an intelligent ice supply device, which further includes an outer bucket body103with an outer cabin door1031. The ice storage container1is arranged in the outer bucket body103, and the outer cabin door1031can be opened to expose the ice inlet13of the ice storage container1for the ice cubes to be put in. Moreover, there is a cavity CH between the outer bucket body103and the ice storage container1, and the cavity CH can also be filled with heat-insulating materials such as polyurethane to further enhance the heat-insulating effect.

Sixth Embodiment

Please refer toFIG.12, which is the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, an intelligent beverage mixing apparatus7000is provided, which is used for mixing beverages and pouring the prepared beverages into at least one drinking cup. The intelligent beverage mixing apparatus7000may include some or all of the elements in the patent number TWI737553, which may be appropriately changed depending on the actual design requirements, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Furthermore, a storage device5000and an intelligent ice supply device1000described in any one of the foregoing embodiments may be provided inside the intelligent beverage mixing apparatus7000. The storage device5000includes at least one outlet, which can be connected with the ice outlet of the intelligent ice supply device1000through any type of collecting mechanism3000. In detail, the storage device5000may include a plurality of beverage barrels5001for storing beverages or liquid materials, such as fresh milk, tea, boiled water, sugar water, etc., as materials for mixing beverages. Moreover, the intelligent beverage mixing apparatus7000can add appropriate amount of ice cubes to the beverage through the intelligent ice supply device1000during the beverage mixing process according to the input beverage demand data (such as commodity, sugar content, ice amount, etc.), so that it can automatically supply prepared beverages to users according to the input beverage demand data.

In conclusion, the intelligent ice supply device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure and the apparatus with the intelligent ice supply device can be provided with a plurality of ice partitions located on the lower side portion of the agitating bar so as to limit the amount of ice cubes falling from the intelligent ice supply device. In addition, the driving device can be connected to the upper side portion of the agitating bar, the driving device can be used to drive the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions to rotate, so as to automatically supply the ice cubes, and the driving device can also be used to drive the agitating bar, the agitating plates and the ice partitions to vibrate, so as to automatically eliminate the phenomenon of ice jamming Therefore, the intelligent ice supply device of the present disclosure can not only automatically supply the ice cubes according to different requirements, but also reduce and automatically eliminate ice jamming