Abstract:
A dual rotation paddlewheel includes tangs that are equally effective in either direction of rotation. The paddlewheel includes tangs disposed around an outer periphery of a body. The dual rotation paddlewheel includes a primary face for use in a first direction and a secondary face for use in a second rotation direction. The tangs may also include a crossbar for increased shear strength. The increased cross sectional area eliminates problems associated with breaking tangs off of the paddlewheel and entering the product stream. Existing product engagement areas in existing designs have been preserved with the dual direction design. The dual direction paddlewheel allows for the consolidation of rotation specific designs into a single part, thereby eliminating costs associated with carrying multiple single direction paddlewheels as well as tooling and manufacturing costs for multiple paddlewheel designs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to product dispensing and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to methods and apparatus for a paddlewheel design that is equally effective in either rotation direction. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the post-mix beverage dispensing industry, most beverages are served with a form of ice. Beverage dispenser manufacturers have long since integrated ice dispensers into beverage dispensers. Most dispensers on the market use an interior ice bin that may be manually or automatically filled. Ice in the ice bin is then picked up by a rotating paddlewheel having tangs or another product engagement device, passed over an opening, and dispensed through a chute into an operator&#39;s cup. 
   While variations in paddlewheels exist for different products and vendors, most paddlewheels scoop or push a product to a dispensing port. Most paddlewheels are unidirectional, meaning that they are not equally effective in moving product when rotated in two opposite directions. The need for a second direction of rotation did not appear in the beverage dispensing industry until two dispensers were combined to create a high capacity unit. In dual dispenser applications having a single bin, it has been found that it is not advantageous to have two paddlewheels rotating in the same direction. The same rotation pattern tends to move ice in the bin to one side of the dispenser. As such, a second variation of the paddlewheel had to be tooled, manufactured and inventoried. 
   Additionally, the tangs are susceptible to excessively high loading when an obstruction enters the ice path. Objects caught in the path of the paddlewheel tangs can cause the tangs to shear off of the paddlewheel, enter the ice dispense path, and ultimately, be dispensed into an operator&#39;s cup. 
   Accordingly, a dual rotation paddlewheel having an increased strength could eliminate the problems associated with tang breakage, while simultaneously reducing the inventory and tooling costs associated with single rotation direction paddlewheels. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, a dual direction paddlewheel provides the ability to move product in either rotation direction. The paddlewheel includes tangs disposed around an outer periphery of a body. The design of the dual direction paddlewheel further increases the inertial properties of the tangs, such that the tangs will remain attached to the paddlewheel body in the case of an obstruction in the path of the tangs. 
   The dual direction paddlewheel may be utilized in single rotation dispensers, as well as dual rotation dispensers. Existing product engagement areas in existing designs have been preserved with the dual direction design. The dual direction paddlewheel allows for the consolidation of rotation specific designs into a single part. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dual rotation direction paddlewheel. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to utilize a dual direction paddlewheel in single direction paddlewheel applications. 
   It is still further an object of the present invention to maintain existing engagement areas of the paddlewheels. 
   It is still yet further an object of the present invention to increase the shear strength of the tangs to reduce tang breakage when an obstruction is encountered. 
   It is still yet further an object of the present invention to provide a paddlewheel for dual dispenser applications. 
   Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the following. Also, it should be understood that the scope of this invention is intended to be broad, and any combination of any subset of the features, elements, or steps described herein is part of the intended scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  provides a front view with a section view of a product dispenser according to the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 1   a  provides a section view of the product dispenser according to the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a detail view of a paddlewheel according to the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 2   a  provides an end view of a paddlewheel tang according to the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates the effective ice contact area of a current paddlewheel design. 
       FIG. 2   c  illustrates the effective ice contact area according to the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 2   d  illustrates the effective ice contact area of an embodiment not containing a crossbar. 
       FIG. 2   e  illustrates the effective ice contact area of an embodiment not containing a cross-bar, but including a rounded crest. 
       FIG. 3  provides a method for utilizing the ice dispensing system according to the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  includes a perspective view of the product dispensing system used in conjunction with a beverage dispenser. 
       FIG. 4   a  provides a cutaway view of illustrating the product dispensing system. 
       FIG. 4   b  provides a perspective view with a cutaway of the product dispensing system in combination with a beverage dispenser. 
       FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of a dual product dispensing system in use with a dual beverage dispenser application. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is further to be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components or steps. 
   A paddlewheel design in a dispensing system provides for the ability to move product in both rotation directions. The paddlewheel design includes symmetrical tangs that push ice. The symmetrical tangs allow the paddlewheel to rotate in either direction about an axis. The dual direction design further increases the inertial properties of tangs on the paddlewheel, thereby providing an increased strength. The dual direction paddlewheel also reduces inventory requirements and future tooling costs, as only one tool is now required. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , a dispensing system  100  includes a housing  110 , a bin liner  160 , and an insulation  113 . The housing  110  is any suitable structure that can be used to support and thermally isolate the product dispensing system  100 . The bin liner  160  is a hollow shell that substantially conforms to the interior shape of the housing  110 , thereby creating a storage bin  161 . The bin liner  160  may rest on a top side  306  of a cold plate  302 , thereby allowing the contents of the storage bin  161  and the coldplate  302  to thermally interact. The cold plate  302  is disposed within the housing  110  at an angle of substantially ten degrees, such that anything on a top face  306  of the cold plate  302  will move toward a front  101  of the beverage dispenser  100 . The insulation  113  is located between the bin liner  160  and the housing  110 , thereby keeping the storage bin  161  of the bin liner  160  insulated. A lid  120  may also be employed to close out the storage bin  161 . 
   The bin liner  160  includes a cylindrical inset  162 , the axis of which is substantially parallel to the angle of the cold plate  302 . The cylindrical inset  162  includes an inner face  168 , a cylindrical wall  169 , and a lower shaft aperture  163  located on the axis of the cylindrical inset  162 . The bin liner  160  further includes an upper shaft aperture  164 . A shaft  165  of a drive mechanism  166  protrudes through the lower shaft aperture  163 , thereby gaining access to an interior of the storage bin  161 . The shaft  165  includes a pin aperture  167  for accepting a drive pin  178 . In this preferred embodiment, the drive mechanism  166  is an electric motor with a gear reducer. The drive mechanism  166  is mounted on a front side  101  of the bin liner  160 . 
   The dispensing system  100  further includes a paddlewheel  205  and an agitator bar  170 . The paddlewheel  205  is an injection-molded component. The paddlewheel  205  includes a truncated conical body  204  having a front face  222 , an outer periphery  206 , and a protrusion  209  having a central aperture  207  and a pin aperture  221 . The central aperture  207  passes through the paddlewheel  205  along the conical axis. The pin aperture  221  passes through the protrusion  209  and accepts the drive pin  178 . A plurality of gussets  208  provides radial support for the protrusion  209 . The paddlewheel  205  further includes tangs  210  that extend radially from the outer periphery  206 . 
   The tangs  210  include a first angled leg  211 , a second angled leg  212 , and a crossbar  213 , located between the angled legs  211  and  212 . The first angled leg  211  includes a first end  214  and a second end  215 . The second angled leg  212  includes a first end  218  and a second end  219 , and the crossbar  213  includes a first end  216  and a second end  217 . The first end  214  of the first angled leg  211  is located nearest the side of the protrusion  209 . The second end  215  of the first angled leg  211  is joined to the first end  216  of the crossbar  213 . The first end  218  of the second angled leg  212  is similarly located nearest the side with the protrusion  209 . The second end  219  of the second angled leg  212  is joined to the second end  217  of the crossbar  213 , such that the first and second angled legs  211  and  212  are symmetrical about a midpoint of the crossbar  213 . The angle between the first angled leg  211  and the second angled leg  212  is substantially fifty degrees. The tangs  210  are arrayed around the axis of the truncated conical body  204 . In this configuration, the tangs  210  include a primary face  223  and a secondary face  224 . In this preferred embodiment, thirteen tangs  210  are evenly spaced along the outer periphery  206  of the paddlewheel  205 . 
   The agitator bar  170  includes a shaft  171 , a first arm  172 , and a second arm  173 . The shaft  171  and the arms are constructed from metallic bar, preferably stainless steel. The shaft  171  includes a pin aperture  177  at a first end  174  to accept the drive pin  178 . The arms  172  and  173  are connected to the shaft  171  using any suitable means, for example welding. The first end  174  of the agitator bar  170  is connectable to the shaft  165  of the drive mechanism  166 . A second end  175  of the shaft  171  is mountable to a bearing support  176  protruding through the upper shaft aperture  164 . The bearing support  176  is suitably mounted to the housing  110  using snap features (not shown). 
   The dispensing system  100  further includes an ice delivery passage  156 , an ice delivery chute  155  and an ice lever  150 . The ice delivery passage  156  includes a first end  157  and a second end  158 . The first end  157  of the ice delivery passage  156  is connected to an ice delivery port  262  located in the bin liner  160 . The ice delivery port  262  is located within an uppermost portion of the inner face  168  of the cylindrical inset  162 . The second end  158  of the ice delivery passage  156  is connected to an ice exit port  263  located near the center of the front  101  of the housing  110 . A chute  155  is mounted to the ice exit port  263  such that exiting ice is deflected downward. The lever  150  is mounted behind the chute  155  such that an operator may activate the lever  150  while holding a cup underneath the chute  155 . 
   On assembly, the central aperture  207  of the paddlewheel  205  is placed over the shaft  165  that protrudes through the lower shaft aperture  163  in the liner  160 . A largest diameter of the paddlewheel  205  is smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical inset  162  of the liner  160 , such that the paddlewheel  205  fits within cylindrical inset  162  and is free to rotate with the motor shaft  165  when placed on the shaft  165 . Next, the first end  174  of the agitator bar  170  is placed over the shaft  165 . The pin apertures  221  and  177  in the paddlewheel  205  and the agitator bar  170  must then be aligned with the pin aperture  167  in the shaft  165 , thereby enabling the insertion of the drive pin  178 . Once the drive pin  178  is inserted, the paddlewheel  205  and the agitator bar  170  must rotate with the shaft  165 . 
   In this preferred embodiment the front face  222  of the paddlewheel  205  is at full engagement in the cylindrical inset  162  when the front face  222  of the paddlewheel  205  is approximately three tenths of an inch from the inner face  168  of the cylindrical inset  162 . This close proximity prevents large product cubes from becoming lodged between the front face  222  of the paddlewheel  205  and the inner face  168  of the liner  160 . A crest  225  of the tangs  210  is approximately one half of an inch from the front face  222  of the paddlewheel  205 , thereby enabling the paddlewheel  205  to gather product cubes or groups of product cubes larger than that distance. 
   The product dispensing circuit  200  includes the storage bin  161 , the agitator bar  170 , the paddlewheel  205 , a switch  266 , the drive mechanism  166 , a product delivery passage  156 , and the product dispensing chute  155 . Large quantities of product may be placed into the storage bin  161  by removing the lid  120  and dumping the product into the storage bin  161 . The product may stay in the storage bin  161  for extended periods, thereby chilling the cold plate  302 . The switch  266  is connected to the lever  150  such that when the lever  150  is depressed the switch  266  is closed and the drive mechanism  166  is powered. The shaft  165  commences to turn, thereby rotating the paddlewheel  205  and the agitator bar  170 . As the paddlewheel  205  rotates, product is trapped in the areas between the tangs  210 . The product moves along the inner face  168  and the cylindrical wall  169  of the cylindrical inset  162 . As the drive mechanism  166  turns, product trapped by the paddlewheel  205  moves towards the product delivery passage  156 . Once over the product delivery port  262 , the product falls due to gravity into the product delivery passage  156 . The product then moves down the product delivery chute  155  for dispensing. 
   In operation, an operator positions a cup below the chute  155  and presses the lever  150  as shown in step  10  of the method flowchart of  FIG. 3 . The lever  150  may be depressed by the operator while holding the cup underneath the chute  155 . Depressing the lever  150  closes the switch  266  to provide electrical power to the drive mechanism  166 . Once the electrical power is received, the drive mechanism  166  commences to turn in the range of four to six revolutions per minute, and product located in the storage bin  161  is separated from the rest of the product by the tangs  210  of the paddlewheel  205  and pushed to the product delivery passage  156 , step  20 . Once the product is above the product delivery passage  156 , the product falls away, continuing down the product delivery passage  156  as shown in step  30 . Step  40  provides for directing the product downward with a chute to land in the operator&#39;s cup. Once the desired amount of product is obtained, the operator releases the lever  150  as shown in step  60 . 
   It should be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that the effective product contact surface is along the primary face  223  of the tangs  210 . It should further be noted that the effective contact area of the tangs  210  in a first direction is identical to the effective contact area for the single rotation paddlewheel previously utilized. The effective contact area in a second direction is along a secondary face  224  also having the same effective contact area as the previous design. Accordingly, the paddlewheel  205  may be utilized in either the first rotation direction or the second rotation direction. 
   A second embodiment of the paddlewheel includes a tang  320  without a crossbar as shown in  FIG. 2   d . The tang  320  includes a primary face  323  and a secondary face  324 . A crest  325  is present in embodiments without a crossbar. The paddlewheel  305  is virtually identical to the paddlewheel  205  in use. 
   A third embodiment of the paddlewheel includes a tang  420  with a rounded crest  425 . The tang  420  also includes a primary face  423  and a secondary face  424  while maintaining the same effective contact area as the previous embodiments. The paddlewheel  405  is virtually identical to the paddlewheel  205   
   The spacing between the tangs  210  may be adjusted to increase or decrease the number of tangs  210  on the outer periphery  206  of the paddlewheel  205  or the amount of product delivered to the product delivery passage  156 . The tangs  210  may include a crossbar  213  for increased shear strength. The length of the crossbar  213  may also be adjusted to evenly arrange virtually any number of tangs  210  on the paddlewheel  205 . 
   The dual direction paddlewheel  205  eliminates overhead costs associated with carrying a second paddlewheel variation. Tooling costs associated with a second single direction paddlewheel are also eliminated. An additional advantage includes increased shear strength. The increased shear strength of the tangs  210  reduces the occurrence of tang  210  breakage problems, thereby minimizing the possibility of tangs  210  being dispensed into an operator&#39;s cup. 
   This invention may be utilized with virtually any solid or semi-solid product, including ice and ice cubes. The spacing between the tangs  210  and the inner face  168 , and the tangs  210  and the cylindrical wall  169  of the liner  160  may be adjusted to complement product having smaller or larger particulate sizes. It should further be noted that the dual rotation paddlewheel  205  may be effectively utilized in either the first or the second direction of rotation, or alternatively, both directions. 
   While this dispensing system  100  has been shown as a stand-alone unit, it should be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that the dispensing system  100  may be utilized in conjunction with another device, for example a beverage dispenser. In this case, the product dispensing system  100  may be utilized to store a large quantity of ice and to dispense a small quantity of ice for chilling a beverage. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , an integrated dispenser  300  includes both components for the dispensing of beverages and the dispensing of product, for example ice, using the product dispenser  100 . In this configuration, both the product and the beverages are available from the same side. Operators may dispense product, for example ice by depressing the lever  150 , and then a beverage by selecting a flavor from an interface panel  135  and receiving the beverage through a nozzle  130 . All other aspects of the product dispenser  100  are similar to those previously disclosed. 
   In a double-wide integrated dispenser application  500 , opposite rotations of the paddlewheels  205  in the integrated dispensers are desirable, as the opposite rotations do not move all of the ice to one side of the integrated dispenser  500 . The use of the dual rotation paddlewheel  205  is suitable for use in opposite rotation applications. Further, the paddlewheels  205  in opposite rotation applications are interchangeable. 
   Although the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoing preferred embodiment, such description has been for exemplary purposes only and, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degrees will fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoing detailed description; rather, it is defined only by the claims that follow.