Automated ice bagging apparatus and methods
An automatic ice vending apparatus including a holding vessel formed with an aperture, the holding vessel being configured and dimensioned to receive and house ice pieces produced by an operatively associated ice supply, an ice metering device, and an ice transferring device at least partially disposed within the holding vessel that facilitates movement of ice pieces located therein in a first direction toward the aperture thereof, and movement of ice pieces in a second different direction from the aperture to the ice metering device, which is adapted and configured to meter a quantity of ice pieces into a readily transportable container. Methods and automated methods of delivering ice to consumer(s) are also included.
1. An automated ice vending apparatus, comprising:
a holding vessel formed with an aperture, the holding vessel being configured and dimensioned to receive and house ice pieces produced by an operatively associated ice supply;
a container filling station; and
an ice transferring device at least partially disposed within the holding vessel, with the ice transferring device facilitating movement of ice pieces located therein in a first direction toward and through the aperture thereof, and in a second different direction to the container filling station where a selected quantity of ice pieces is placed into a readily transportable container, wherein the container filling station comprises a metering device that is operatively associated with the ice transferring device and that meters a selected quantity of ice pieces into each readily transportable container, wherein the ice transferring device further comprises a second holding vessel having at least one end positioned to receive ice pieces emitted from the aperture; a first transport device located within the second holding vessel to move ice pieces toward the end thereof; and a second transport device positioned between the end of the second holding vessel and the container filling station to move ice pieces from the second holding vessel to the container filling station.
2. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second different direction itself comprises two different directions that are different from the first direction.
3. The automated apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first transport device moves the ice pieces laterally from the aperture toward the second transport device.
4. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends across a portion of a side of the holding vessel so as to facilitate movement of ice pieces adjacent the first transport device.
5. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured and adapted to deliver an ice-filled container to a purchaser within a time period in the range of about 4 seconds to 20 seconds from the time of receipt of payment.
6. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is angled no more than about 20 degrees from the horizontal.
7. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metering device comprises a weighing device located vertically above the aperture, the second direction being upwardly angled between the aperture and the weighing device.
8. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ice supply is configured and adapted to deposit ice pieces into the holding vessel to replenish a portion of ice pieces removed through the aperture.
9. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the readily transportable container is a fully formed, discrete, plastic bag including an open end in which to dispose the selected quantity of ice pieces and a second permanently closed end.
10. The automated apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a fan that operates to blow open the open end of the bag to facilitate disposing ice pieces therein.
11. The automated apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a positioning device configured and adapted to position the bag so the open end can receive ice pieces.
12. The automated apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a closing device configured and adapted to releasably fasten each open end to seal each bag.
13. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a downwardly angled surface associated with the ice metering device to facilitate delivery of each container therefrom to a consumer.
14. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured and adapted to deliver a substantial quantity of automatically bagged ice pieces in rapid succession by providing at least 100 readily transportable containers in no more than about 30 minutes.
15. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first direction includes a substantially horizontal component and a downwardly angled component relative to the vertical.
16. The automated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metering device weighs the ice pieces to provide the selected quantity of ice pieces.