Patent Publication Number: US-10760843-B2

Title: Device and a method for making ice cubes and a metering device for ice cubes

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/666,581, filed Dec. 23, 2009, which claims priority to International Application No. PCT/NL2008/000166, filed Jul. 1, 2008, which claims priority to The Netherlands Application No. 1034074, filed Jul. 2, 2007, which are all expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety, including any references contained therein. 
    
    
     The present invention, according to a first aspect thereof, relates to a device for making ice cubes, comprising a supplying device for supplying a liquid substance to at least one elongated mould and a refrigerating device for freezing said liquid substance, which at least one mould defines a space for an ice column which is at least substantially closed at least while said liquid substance is being refrigerated. The term “ice” as used herein refers to a frozen substance. The term is not limited only to frozen water or a frozen liquid, but it also encompasses frozen liquid substances such as foodstuffs, for example a puree. For the sake of briefness, the term “ice” is used herein to indicate the collection of frozen substances. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,803 A describes a refrigerator which is fitted with such a device in the door thereof. The refrigerator door comprises a housing with four tubes. The housing is surrounded by a continuous freezing coil, which is in contact with the housing wall. The tubes can be filled with water from above, which water can be removed from the tubes, at the bottom side thereof, in the form of ice after being frozen. Although said device is suitable for use in a refrigerator, it is not suitable for making relatively large amounts of ice cubes. 
     Consequently it is an object of the present invention, according to the first aspect thereof, to provide a device as referred to in the introduction, by means of which ice cubes can be made on a larger scale than is possible with the known device. This object is accomplished by the present invention in that said at least one mould comprises two mould halves which are movable relative to each other, so that the mould halves can be moved apart once the ice column has been formed. As a result, the ice column can be easily removed from the mould by moving said mould halves, which are movable relative to each other, away from the ice column. Especially if the mould comprises heating means for detaching the ice column from the mould halves by melting, ice can thus be removed from the mould very quickly and a next production cycle can be started. 
     A known device for making ice cubes comprises an elongated mould which extends horizontally and which is provided with ribs at the bottom side so as to provide a matrix for forming ice cubes. The supplying device comprises a spraying device, which sprays refrigerated water against the open bottom side of the mould, after which the water on the bottom side of the mould freezes. Thus an ice mass grows on the bottom side of the mould, which ice mass is divided into ice cubes by the ribs. The ice cubes are subsequently detached from the mould and packaged for storage and transport, for example to catering establishments. 
     A drawback of the known device is its limited production capacity, because the growth of the ice cubes takes place too slowly and only one layer of ice cubes can be made with each batch. 
     From US 2004/0093878 A1 there is known an ice making device which comprises two ice making sections provided with a column of ice making compartments, behind which cooling pipes extend. The ice making compartments are open at the front. Refrigerated water is sprayed into the compartment through the open front side via a spray hole, which water grows into an ice cube as a result of the refrigerating action of the cooling pipes at the rear side of the compartments. Also JP-10-197114 A and JP 2003-130513 A describe devices based on compartments which are open on one side, into which compartments water is sprayed. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refrigerating means are provided having the liquid substance cooled and frozen by said at least one mould. As a result, the liquid substance is cooled and frozen directly in the mould, which leads to a relatively high output. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said at least one mould comprises heating means for detaching the obtained ice column by melting. 
     In order to be able to produce more than one ice cube in each mould, it is preferable if said at least one mould defines a series of interconnected, hollow spaces for forming an elongated ice column of interconnected ice cubes. Since the ice cubes are interconnected in a way defined by the shape of the mould, they can be packaged and oriented in an efficient manner upon use. The interconnection between ice cubes can vary from a minimum connection to a connection over the entire area of the side-by-side surfaces, so that an elongated column is obtained, as it were, in which the individual ice cubes cannot be distinguished. In fact, ice cubes of variable length can be broken or cut off from such a column. 
     The mould may therefore have a continuous inner surface so as to produce a bar of ice that can subsequently be divided into separate ice cubes, but it is preferable if the mould comprises reduced diameter portions so as to form reduced diameter portions in the elongated ice column between adjacent ice cubes. As a result, it will be easier to separate individual ice cubes from each other upon subsequent use of the ice cubes than in the case of a continuous mould as described at the beginning of this paragraph. 
     In an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, said at least one mould defines a series of individual hollow spaces for forming an ice column of a plurality of individual ice cubes. The advantage of this is that the ice cubes need not be separated from each other at a later stage, at least if the ice cubes are prevented from freezing together yet during subsequent storage. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, agitation means are provided for agitating the liquid substance while it is being refrigerated in said at least one elongated mould. Said agitation means may comprise a vibration device which sets said at least one mould and possibly other parts of the device vibrating during the refrigeration process. The agitation means may also be (partially) located inside the mould, for example in the form of a stirrer or a bar-shaped element that moves inside the mould while the liquid substance is being refrigerated. The advantage of this is that a clear liquid will freeze as a clear ice cube. If no agitation of the liquid takes place, an opaque ice cube will be formed during the refrigeration process. 
     With a view to forming a cavity in the ice cubes it is preferable if an elongated element extends through said at least one mould in the longitudinal direction of said at least one mould, around which element the ice cubes are formed in the mould. It may be desirable to form cavities in ice cubes, for example in order to be able to manipulate the ice cubes at a later stage and/or enlarge the chilling area of the ice cubes. The elongated element may be an agitation element. 
     It is preferable in that regard if the elongated element comprises heating means. Said heating means, too, make it possible to detach the ice column quickly from the elongated element by melting, for example by first heating the mould, then moving the mould halves away from the column and subsequently heating the elongated element, so that the ice column can slide along the elongated element into a package. If the elongated element is provided with refrigerating means, it is moreover possible to refrigerate the water in the mould by means of said elongated element so as to freeze the water even more quickly. 
     Said at least one mould is preferably substantially vertically oriented. The advantage of this is that when the ice cubes are to be removed from the mould, for example by moving mould halves apart as described in the foregoing, the ice column or the individual ice cubes can fall straight down into a package, in the case in which an elongated element as discussed above is provided, said elongated element can function as a guide for the ice column or the ice cubes. 
     In order to further increase the capacity, it is preferable if the device comprises a row of moulds oriented side by side, whilst it is furthermore preferable if the device comprises a number of moulds which are oriented in a matrix relative to each other. In this way a relatively compact device is obtained for producing ice cubes at a high capacity. 
     It is furthermore preferable if conveying means are provided for positioning a container under said at least one mould for collecting ice cubes formed by the device. In this way the ice cubes can be packaged in a correct and efficient manner, while it is possible to mechanise and/or automate the production process, so that no human operations are required. This makes it possible to work not only efficiently but also hygienically. 
     It is furthermore preferable if pre-refrigerating means are provided for pre-refrigerating a liquid substance to be supplied to said at least one mould. In general if can be stated that the colder the liquid substance that is supplied to said at least one mould, the more quickly said liquid substance can be converted into ice by further refrigeration in the mould and the more quickly the production cycle can be completed. This, too, leads to increased capacity of the device. 
     The present invention, according to a second aspect thereof, relates to a method for making ice cubes, comprising the steps of supplying a liquid substance to a mould, freezing the liquid substance in the mould and removing the ice cubes thus formed from the mould. Such a method is known and has been described in the foregoing with reference to the known device for producing ice cubes. With the method according to the present invention, in order to accomplish the object of achieving a higher production capacity, the liquid substance is supplied in said first step to a mould comprising an at least substantially closed space. For preferred embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of the present invention, reference is made to the description of the device according to the first aspect of the present invention. 
     The present invention, according to a third aspect thereof, relates to a metering device for ice cubes, comprising a container for ice cubes and engaging means for engaging an ice cube and depositing it in a drinking container. 
     Such a device is known in the catering industry and comprises a storage container for ice cubes and a pair of tongs by means of which a barman can pick ice cubes from the storage container and subsequently deposit them in a glass. A drawback of such a device is that a barman can easily reach the contents of the storage container not only with the aforesaid tongs but also with his hand. Frequently, the tongs are left untouched in the storage container, if they are placed in the storage container at all, and the barman takes out the ice cubes with his hand. This is unhygienic, as is the fact that the ice cubes in the storage container are often continuously exposed to the ambient air in the bar. If a lid for the storage container is available at all, it is not used in most cases. 
     There are also devices in which ice cubes can be deposited into a glass from the storage container through a discharge opening fitted with a valve. With such a device it is difficult to meter the amount of ice, however. In addition to that there is a danger that the ice cubes will get jammed in front of or in the discharge opening and block the discharge opening. 
     Consequently it is an object of the present invention according to the third aspect thereof to provide a metering device for ice cubes in which the risk of unhygienic operation is minimal and by means of which an adequate metering action can be realised. This object is accomplished by the present invention in that metering means are provided for metering one or more ice cubes to be deposited into the drinking container by mechanical means. The term “mechanical” is understood to mean that the engaging means are mechanically operated, in contrast to the known device, in which the tongs are moved into the storage container by hand and squeezed together by hand for the purpose of gripping one or more ice cubes. With a device according to the third aspect of the invention, the storage container need not be accessible from outside for taking out ice cubes, but the ice cubes can simply be engaged within a closed container by mechanical engaging means and be guided to the drinking container via a discharge opening. In this way ice cubes can be prevented from being continuously exposed to the ambient air in the bar. 
     It is preferable in that regard if the metering means comprise an engaging element for engaging at least one ice cube. The use of the engaging element makes it easier to meter the amount of ice cubes to be deposited. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metering means comprise a finger for engaging in a cavity of at least one ice cube for guiding said at least one ice cube from said container in the direction of a drinking container. A cavity, for example a through hole, in an ice cube makes it relatively easy to orient and handle the ice cube. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metering means are arranged for separating one or more ice cubes from a column of interconnected ice cubes. The ice cubes in a column of ice cubes are oriented in a specific manner relative to each other. When an ice column according to a first aspect of the present invention is stored in the container, ice cubes can be deposited into the drinking container from said ice column in a simple and metered manner. 
     To vary the number of ice cubes to be deposited into a drinking container in dependence on circumstances such as the wishes of the owner of a catering establishment or the outside temperature, it is preferable if setting means are provided for setting the number of ice cubes to be deposited into a drinking container. 
     To be able to engage the ice cubes in a desired manner, it is preferable if the container is arranged for presenting the ice cubes in the container in a desired orientation to the metering means. This is for example possible by arranging the container so that a number of ice columns can be accommodated beside and/or behind each other in the container. 
    
    
     
       The present invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the following figures, which show embodiments of devices according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, perspective view of a mould for an ice column according to the present invention in an open condition thereof; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the mould of  FIG. 1  in closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a matrix of moulds in open condition; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, sectional side view of an ice dispenser according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a conveyor for ice cubes in a dispenser according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a mould  1  for making ice cubes. The mould  1  comprises two mould halves  1   a ,  1   b , which are movable relative to each other in the directions indicated by the arrow P, and a tube  2  with a suspension system  3 . The mould halves  1   a ,  1   b  each comprise a plate  4  and a series of mould elements  5  arranged one above another. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an assembly  8  of three moulds  6   a ,  8   b ,  6   c  according to the principle of  FIG. 1 , which are made up of U-shaped sections  7  and H-shaped sections  8 , through which tubes  9  extend. 
       FIG. 3  shows a matrix mould  10  comprising nine moulds according to the principle of  FIG. 1 , which are made up of section elements  11 ,  12 , through which tubes  13  extend. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic side view in longitudinal section of an ice dispenser  30  comprising a cabinet  31 , in which a storage space  32  for ice cubes  38  comprising a conveyor  33  is present. The conveyor  33  extends up to an ejection opening  34 , which opens above a platform  35 . 
       FIG. 5  is a detail view of ice cubes  38  stored in the storage space  32  of  FIG. 4 , above a conveyor  33  comprising a chain  37  provided with fingers  38 , which is passed over sprocket wheels  39 , one of which sprocket wheels can be rotatably driven for driving the chain  37  in turn. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a mould  1  for making ice cubes. The mould  1  comprises two mould halves  1   a ,  1   b , which are movable towards and away from each other in the directions indicated by the arrow P. In  FIG. 1  the mould halves  1   a ,  1   b  are shown in a condition in which they are maximally apart. The mould halves  1   a ,  1   b  each comprise a plate  4 , which is provided with mould elements  5  arranged one above another. In this example the mould elements  5  are rectangular in shape, provided with a semicircular recess so as to create space for the tube  2 . In the position in which the mould halves  1   a ,  1   b  have been moved together (see  FIG. 2 ), two opposing mould elements  5  form a space for an ice cube. The mould elements may be provided in such a manner as to be exchangeable, making it possible to use mould elements of varying shapes in the device according to the present invention. A tube  2 , which is suspended from a suspension system  3 , extends vertically between the two mould halves  1   a ,  1   b.    
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an assembly  6  of such moulds  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c  according to the principle as explained with reference to  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2  the moulds  8   a ,  8   b ,  6   c  are substantially closed, i.e. the mould halves have been moved together, thus forming one substantially closed space around respective tubes  9 . In  FIG. 2  the mould halves are made up of U-shaped sections  7  on the outer side and H-shaped sections  8  in the centre of the assembly  8 . In this embodiment, the middle tube  9  remains stationary. The H-sections  8  can be moved aside, away from the middle lube  9 , and the outer tubes  9  can in turn be moved in outward direction, further away from the H-sections  8 . The U-sections  7  can be moved even further outwards with respect to the outer tubes  9 . In this way sufficient space is created around all the tubes  9  for removing ice columns formed in the moulds  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c.    
       FIG. 3  shows a matrix mould  10  comprising moulds according to the principle of  FIG. 1 , with section elements  11  on the outer sides and section elements  12  in the centre of the matrix mould. The operating principle of the matrix mould  10  corresponds to that shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 3  the section elements  11 ,  12  are shown in spaced-apart relationship, as in  FIG. 1 . As the figure shows, the spacing between the tubes is larger than in  FIG. 2 . 
     To produce ice columns by means of a matrix mould as shown in  FIG. 3 , the moulds are substantially closed by moving the section elements  11  and  12  together, i.e. the section elements to the left of the middle column of tubes  13  are moved to the right as much as possible and the section elements  11 ,  12  to the right of the middle column of tubes are moved to the left as much as possible. The tubes  9  remain oriented approximately centrally between the section elements. Subsequently, water having a temperature near the freezing point is introduced into the moulds from the upper side of each mould. The moulds are closed at the bottom side, so that the moulds will fill with water. Once sufficient water has been introduced into the moulds, the section elements  11 ,  12  are refrigerated in a manner which is known per se, causing the water present in the moulds to freeze. When ice columns have thus been formed in the moulds, the section elements  11 ,  12  are briefly heated, as a result of which the ice columns will melt at their circumference, where they make contact with the section elements  11 ,  12 , and the section elements  11 ,  12  can be returned to the position shown in  FIG. 3 . The ice columns will remain in place, because they are frozen on to the tubes  13 . Subsequently the tubes  13  are heated, so that the ice columns will melt at their inner circumference and become detached from the tubes  13 . A container for the ice columns may be disposed under the moulds, so that the ice columns will fall directly into said container to be packaged for storage and transport. The section elements  11 ,  12  can then be moved together again and a next production cycle can start. In this way a relatively large amount of ice cubes is produced in a very efficient and relatively quick manner. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic, sectional side view of a dispenser  30  for ice cubes  36 . The ice dispenser  30  comprises a cabinet  31  for positioning the storage space  32  with the conveyor  33  at a height sufficient for having ice cubes  38  fall into a glass or the like placed on the platform  35  via an ejection opening  34 . Located at the front side of the cabinet  31 , i.e. the side at which the ejection opening  34  and the platform  35  are present, is a control panel (not shown) for an operator who can control the conveyor  33  via said panel for moving a desired number of ice cubes  36  to the ejection opening  34 . The storage space  32  is preferably insulated and refrigerated so as to prevent ice cubes  38  melting in the storage cabinet. 
     The interior of the storage space  32  of  FIG. 4  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 . As the figure shows, a chain  37  passed over sprocket wheels  39  is disposed under the columns of ice cubes  35 . At least one of the two sprocket wheels  39  can be driven by an operator via the aforesaid control panel for delivering a desired number of ice cubes  38  via the ejection opening  34 . The chain  37  has fingers  38 , which are provided on the chain  37  with substantially the same spacing between them as the spacing between the central axes of the ice cubes  36 . If the ice cubes  38  have for example been formed by means of a mould provided with a tube ( 2 ,  9 ,  30 ) as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the columns of ice cubes  36  will be hollow. On account of their profile, the ice cubes  38  within a column have melted together over a very limited surface area. In the example of  FIG. 5 , the ice cubes  36  have melted together in horizontal direction as well, forming bridge connections  40 , so that one block of ice has been formed, as it were, with substantially vertical interspaces. Within the storage space  32 , said block of see is held at a specific vertical distance above the fingers  38  on the upper side of the chain  37 . When the storage space  32  is filled (again), the ice cubes  36  at the bottom side of the respective columns will be oriented in a horizontal plane above the fingers  38 . Then the ice dispenser  30  is activated and the block of ice cubes  36  is lowered one step. As a result, the hollow spaces of the respective ice cubes  38  will slip over the fingers  38  on the upper side of the chain  37 . Subsequently the chain is driven in the direction indicated by the arrows A towards the ejection opening  34 , as a result of which the lowermost row of ice cubes will move to the right and an ice cube  36  will fall from a respective finger  38  on the right-hand side each time a finger  38  is moved from a vertically upward position to a vertical downward position via the sprocket wheel  39 . Via the ejection opening  34 , the ice cube  36  will fall info a glass (not shown) that has been placed on the platform  35 . Once all the lowermost ice cubes (9 in this case) have been removed from the bottom side of the ice block by the chain  37  provided with fingers  38 , the entire ice block will be lowered one step again, so that a new row of ice cubes  36  will slip over the fingers  38 . The chain  37  may also be driven in such a manner that it is moved by a distance of two or more ice columns, as a result of which two or more ice cubes will be deposited into a glass via the ejection opening  34 . According to another possibility, two or more ice cubes and two or more conveyors are disposed one behind another in the dispenser, so that the conveyors can be driven in parallel, for example, and two or more ice cubes can be delivered more quickly via the ejection opening  34 . 
     Only a few embodiments of devices according to the present invention have been shown and described in the foregoing. It will be apparent, however, that neither the description nor the figures have a limitative effect on the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Thus it is possible, for example, to freeze another liquid or liquid substance in the mould instead of water. Think in this connection of a non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage. In the latter case the freezing temperature will be lower than in the case of water or lemonade, but it is possible to make a drink with a shot of a well-metered amount of an alcoholic beverage by means of ice cubes. Furthermore, other substances such as puree, boiled and finely cut vegetables, to which a binding agent may or may not be added for liquefying the same, can be produced by using a device or the method according to the first two aspects of the invention. 
     In the case of the third aspect of the invention, a different orientation of the engaging means or of the ice cubes may be used, for example a horizontal orientation, or different means may be provided for separating the individual ice cubes. Furthermore, in order to make it possible to crush ice cubes, the discharge opening may be provided with a grate onto which the ice cubes fall and with knives that cut through the ice cubes on the grate and move them through the openings in the grate. Sufficiently crushed ice will subsequently fall through the grate. 
     The above description might give the impression that the invention is limited to cubic ice cubes, but also other shapes, for example cylindrical or oval shapes, are quite possible.