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; 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 facilitates 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, wherein the ice metering device comprises a weighing device located vertically above the aperture, the second direction being upwardly angled between the aperture and the weighing device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is substantially horizontal.
3. 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; 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 facilitates 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, wherein the first direction is no more than about 20 degrees from the horizontal.
4. The 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.
5. The 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.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a fan that operates to blow open the open end of the bag to facilitate disposing ice pieces therein.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a positioning device configured and adapted to position the bag so the open end can receive ice pieces.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a closing device configured and adapted to releasably fasten each open end to seal each bag.
9. The 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.
10. The 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.
11. 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 readily transportable container is a discrete container comprising one or more bags, coolers, boxes, drums, trash cans, kegs, or a combination thereof,
wherein the ice transferring device comprises a first transport mechanism disposed within the holding vessel that assists in moving ice pieces located within the holding vessel toward the aperture thereof, and
wherein the first transport mechanism moves ice pieces located within the holding vessel in a substantially horizontal direction, and in a downwardly angled direction relative to the vertical, toward the aperture in the holding vessel.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the ice transferring device further comprises a second transport mechanism located outside of the holding vessel which moves ice pieces from the aperture to the container filling station and which second transport mechanism comprises: a vessel positioned to receive ice pieces emitted from the aperture; a first transport device located adjacent the vessel to move ice pieces from the aperture; and a second transport device positioned between the end of the vessel and the container filling station to move ice pieces from the vessel to the container filling station.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the aperture extends across a portion of a side of the holding vessel so as to facilitate movement of ice pieces onto the first transport device.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the holding vessel is capable of housing a quantity of ice pieces having a weight of at least about 2,000 pounds.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , 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.
16. An automated ice vending machine, comprising: a holding vessel having an aperture sized and dimensioned to permit ice pieces therethrough, the holding vessel being capable of housing a quantity of ice pieces having a weight of at least 2,000 pounds which are produced by an operatively associated ice supply that operates to replenish a portion of removed ice pieces or to otherwise provide ice pieces; a container filling station; and an ice transferring device having a first portion located within the holding vessel that facilitates moving ice pieces in a substantially horizontal direction toward the aperture thereof, a second portion located at least partially within the holding vessel and oriented at an angle relative to the vertical that assists in moving ice pieces from the interior of the holding vessel downward and through the aperture thereof, and, a third portion located outside of the vessel which moves ice pieces emitted from the aperture upwardly to the container filling station, the ice transferring device facilitating replenishment of the container filling station with ice pieces from the holding vessel.
17. An automated method of delivering ice pieces to a consumer which comprises: providing a holding vessel capable of housing a quantity of ice pieces weighing at least 2,000 pounds; providing a container filling station which receives a pre-selected supply of ice pieces from the holding vessel; moving ice pieces housed within the holding vessel toward and through an aperture thereof; and separately transferring ice pieces emitted from the aperture to the container filling station to replenish the pre-selected supply of ice pieces at the container filling station, which further comprises activating the container filling station in response to receipt of a payment by the consumer to dispense a selected amount of ice pieces into a readily transportable container.
18. The automated method of claim 17 which further comprises activating the container filling station to dispense the pre-selected amount of ice pieces into a readily transportable container; and delivering to the consumer an ice-filled container within a time period in the range of about 4 seconds to 20 seconds from receipt of payment from the consumer.
19. The automated method of claim 17 which further comprises: receiving payment from the consumer in an amount cortresponding to a pre-selected amount of ice pieces; and delivering the amount of ice pieces automatically to the consumer in less than about a minute from the time of receipt of payment.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein delivering comprises depositing the pre-selected amount of ice pieces in a readily transportable container before delivery to the consumer.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the ice pieces are delivered in about 4 seconds to 20 seconds.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein delivering the ice pieces comprises depositing a plurality of ice pieces in a readily transportable container that is still open at an end, and separately providing a closing device to the consumer if it is desired to secure the open end of the container.
23. The automated method of claim 17 , which further comprises activating the container filling station in response to receipt of a payment by the consumer to dispense the pre-selected amount of ice pieces into a readily transportable container.
24. The automated method of claim 23 , wherein the activating comprises dispensing the ice pieces into the readily transportable container while weighing the container as it is filled so that the dispensing is terminated when a pre-selected weight of ice pieces is disposed in the container.
25. The automated method of claim 23 , wherein the activating comprises metering the selected amount of ice pieces into the readily transportable container, which comprises a bag, the bag being first opened at one end to facilitate receiving the ice pieces and then sealable after receipt of the ice pieces and delivery to the consumer.