Integrated ice and beverage dispenser
View Patent ↗An ice cube-making machine that is characterized by noiseless operation at the location where ice cubes are dispensed and be lightweight packages for ease of installation. The ice cube-making machine has an evaporator package, a separate compressor package and a separate condenser package. Each of these packages has a weight that can generally by handled by one or two installers for ease of installation. The noisy compressor and condenser packages can be located remotely of the evaporator package. The maximum height distance between the evaporator package and the condenser package is greatly enhanced by the three package system. A pressure regulator operates during a harvest cycle to limit flow of refrigerant leaving the evaporator, thereby increasing pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator and assisting in defrost thereof. The evaporator can be integrated with a beverage dispenser and an ice dispenser.
1. An integrated ice and beverage dispensing system for use with a compressor, a condenser, a water supply and a beverage source, the system comprising:
a support structure;
a beverage dispenser in fluid communication with the beverage source; and
an evaporator in fluid communication with said compressor and said condenser for the circulation of refrigerant, wherein said beverage dispenser and said evaporator are housed by and integrally connected with said support structure to form a unitary device, wherein said support structure is located remotely from said compressor, said condenser, the water supply and the beverage source, wherein said evaporator is operably connected to the water supply for forming ice at said evaporator, wherein the integrated ice and beverage dispensing system is non-modular, and wherein said support structure further comprises a plurality of walls, wherein said evaporator is positioned adjacent one of said plurality of walls, and wherein said evaporator and a remainder of said plurality of walls define an ice storage bin for receiving said ice formed at said evaporator.
2. An integrated ice and beverage dispensing system for use with a compressor, a condenser, a water supply and a beverage source, the system comprising:
a support structure having a plurality of walls;
a beverage dispenser in fluid communication with the beverage source; and
a plurality of evaporators in fluid communication with said compressor and said condenser for the circulation of refrigerant, wherein said beverage dispenser and said plurality of evaporators are housed by and integrally connected with said support structure to form a unitary device, wherein said support structure is located remotely from said compressor, said condenser, the water supply and the beverage source, wherein said plurality of evaporators are operably connected to the water supply for forming ice at said plurality of evaporators, wherein the integrated ice and beverage dispensing system is non-modular, and wherein said plurality of evaporators are positioned adjacent at least one of said plurality of walls.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said plurality of evaporators and a remainder of said plurality of walls define an ice storage bin for receiving said ice formed at said plurality of evaporators.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein said support structure further comprises a plurality of walls, and wherein said plurality of evaporators are positioned adjacent only one of said plurality of walls, and wherein said plurality of evaporators and a remainder of said plurality of walls define an ice storage bin for receiving said ice formed at said plurality of evaporators.
5. An integrated ice and beverage dispensing system for use with a compressor, a condenser, a water supply and a beverage source, the system comprising:
a support structure having a plurality of walls;
a plurality of beverage dispensers in fluid communication with the beverage source; and
an evaporator in fluid communication with said compressor and said condenser for the circulation of refrigerant, wherein said plurality of beverage dispensers and said evaporator are housed by and integrally connected with said support structure to form a unitary device, wherein said support structure is located remotely from said compressor, said condenser, the water supply and the beverage source, wherein said evaporator is operably connected to the water supply for forming ice at said evaporator, wherein the integrated ice and beverage dispensing system is non-modular, wherein said evaporator is positioned adjacent a rear wall of said plurality of walls, wherein said plurality of beverage dispensers are positioned along a front wall of said plurality of walls, and wherein said evaporator and a remainder of said plurality of walls define an ice storage bin for receiving said ice formed at said evaporator.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said evaporator is a plurality of evaporators that are positioned adjacent said rear wall of said plurality of walls.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said plurality of evaporators and said remainder of said plurality of walls define said ice storage bin for receiving said ice formed at said plurality of evaporators.