Cleaning system for the ice maker of a vendor

Claim 2

In a vendor, an ice maker, a water pump having an inlet and an outlet, a system for delivering water from the pump outlet through the ice maker and returning it from the ice maker to the pump inlet, a drain for draining water from said system, a valve for the drain adapted to be closed for circulation of water through the ice maker and to be opened for drainage of the system, means adapted for the introduction into the system of a cleaning solution, and programming means controlling operation of the pump and the valve for operation through a cleaning cycle including operation of the pump with the valve closed to circulate a cleaning solution through the ice maker, opening of the valve to drain the cleaning solution from the system, and operation of the pump to rinse the ice maker and said system with clear water.

Claim 3

In a vendor as set forth in claim 1, said programming means including means for opening the valve following the circulation of the cleaning solution while the pump remains in operation for pumping the cleaning solution out through the drain.

Claim 4

In a vendor as set forth in claim 2, said programming means including means for stopping the pump after an interval of pumping out the cleaning solution with the valve remaining open for an interval thereafter for further drainage of the system by gravity.

Claim 5

In a vendor as set forth in claim 1, said programming means being operable, following drainage of the cleaning solution from the system, to operate the pump with the valve closed for an interval to circulate clear water for a rinse through the ice maker.

Claim 6

In a vendor as set forth in claim 1, said programming means being capable, following drainage of the cleaning solution from the system, to operate the pump with the valve open for flushing the pump with clear water per se, and then proceeding with operation of the pump with the drain valve closed to circulate clear rinse water through the system, followed by operation of the pump with the drain valve open to pump the rinse water from the system.

Claim 7

In a vendor as set forth in claim 1, having a carbonator, said system including a water line extending from the outlet of the pump removably connected to the carbonator and adapted for disconnection from the carbonator and connection into said system for carrying out a cleaning cycle.

Claim 8

In a vendor as set forth in claim 6, means responsive to connection of said line into said system for initiating operation of said programming means to carry out a cleaning cycle.

Claim 9

In a vendor as set forth in claim 7, means responsive to disconnection of said line from the carbonator for disabling said vendor from operating through a vend cycle.

Claim 10

In a vendor as set forth in claim 1, said ice maker having a hopper for ice made by said ice maker, and means for dispensing ice from the hopper, said programming means being operable to operate the ice dispensing means to dispense substantially all the ice from the hopper before starting the circulation of cleaning solution through the ice maker.

Claim 11

In a vendor as set forth in claim 9 wherein the ice-dispensing means comprises a door normally closing an ice discharge opening in the hopper and a solenoid for operating the door, said programming means being operable to energize the solenoid to open the door and hold it open to dispense substantially all the ice from the hopper and then to deenergize the solenoid to close the door before starting the circulation of the cleaning solution through the ice maker.

Claim 12

A vendor having an ice maker comprising a freeze chamber in which water is frozen to form ice, an ice hopper above the freeze chamber for holding a supply of ice, said freeze chamber having an inlet for water To be frozen and being in communication at its upper end with the hopper, means for delivering ice upward from the freeze chamber into the hopper, the hopper having means for dispensing ice therefrom, a water feeder cup in which a predetermined level of water is maintained, a water delivery line extending from the feeder cup to the freeze chamber water inlet, a water pump having its inlet connected with the feeder cup, a pump output line extending from the outlet of the pump and adapted for connection to said water delivery line, a hopper drain line for connecting the hopper to the pump inlet, said pump being operable to circulate water through said pump output line, water delivery line, freeze chamber water inlet, freeze chamber hopper, and hopper drain line back to the pump inlet during a cleaning cycle, a drain for said water delivery line, a drain valve for said drain adapted to be closed for said circulation of water by the pump and to be opened for drainage of said lines, said programming means operable to control the pump and said drain valve for operation through said cleaning cycle including operation of the pump with the drain valve closed to circulate a cleaning solution through said pump output line, said water delivery line, said freeze chamber and hopper, and said hopper drain line back to the pump inlet, followed by opening of the drain valve to drain the cleaning solution from said lines, then by operation of the pump with the drain valve closed to circulate water per se through the system for at least one rinse, and by opening of the drain valve to drain the rinse water from the system.

Claim 13

A vendor having an ice maker comprising a freeze chamber in which water is frozen to form ice, an ice hopper above the freeze chamber for holding a supply of ice, said freeze chamber having an inlet for water To be frozen and being in communication at its upper end with the hopper, means for delivering ice upward from the freeze chamber into the hopper, the hopper having means for dispensing ice therefrom, a water feeder cup in which a predetermined level of water is maintained, a water delivery line extending from the feeder cup to the freeze chamber water inlet, a water pump having its inlet connected with the feeder cup, a pump output line extending from the outlet of the pump and adapted for connection to said water delivery line, a hopper drain line for connecting the hopper to the pump inlet, said pump being operable to circulate water through said pump output line, water delivery line, freeze chamber water inlet, freeze chamber hopper, and hopper drain line back to the pump inlet during a cleaning cycle, a drain for said water delivery line, a drain valve for said drain adapted to be closed for said circulation of water by the pump and to be opened for drainage of said lines, said programming means operable to control the pump and said drain valve for operation through said cleaning cycle including operation of the pump with the drain valve closed to circulate a cleaning solution through said pump output line, said water delivery line, said freeze chamber and hopper, and said hopper drain line back to the pump inlet, followed by opening of the drain valve to drain the cleaning solution from said lines, then by operation of the pump with the drain valve closed to circulate water per se through the system for at least one rinse, and by opening of the drain valve to drain the rinse water from the system.

Claim 14

A vendor as set forth in claim 11 wherein said programming means includes means for opening the drain valve following the circulation of the cleaning solution and continuing the operation of the pump for pumping the cleaning solution out of said lines through said drain, and for opening the drain valve following the circulation of the rinse water while the pump remains in operation.

Claim 15

A vendor as set forth in claim 12 wherein said programming means includes means for stopping the pump after an interval of pumping out the cleaning solution with the drain valve remaining open for further drainage of the cleaning solution by gravity, and for stopping the pump after an interval of pumping out the rinse water with the drain valve remaining open for further drainage of the rinse water by gravity.

Claim 16

A vendor as set forth in claim 11 having a carbonator wherein said pump outlet line is a flexible hose having a removable connection to the carbonator and adapted for disconnection from the carbonator and connection to said water delivery line.

Claim 17

A vendor as set forth in claim 14 having a line connecting the water feeder cup to the inlet of the pump for supplying water from said cup to the pump inlet during normal operation of the vendor, and for supplying cleaning solution and water from the cup to the pump inlet during a cleaning cycle, and wherein said hopper drain line is in communication with the pump inlet.

Claim 18

A vendor as set forth in claim 15 having disconnectable coupling means between said hose and the carbonator including a valve adapted to close on disconnection of the hose from the carbonator and including a coupling member on the hose, and means in communication with said water delivery line for connecting said coupling member thereto and including a normally closed valve adapted to open on application of said coupling member to said connecting means, said drain extending from said connecting means.

Claim 19

A vendor as set forth in claim 16 having means responsive to connection of said coupling member to said means for connection thereof to said water delivery line for initiating operation of said programming means to carry out a cleaning cycle.

Claim 20

A vendor as set forth in claim 17 having means responsive to disconnection of said hose from the carbonator for disabling said vendor from operating through a vend cycle.

Claim 21

A vendor as set Forth in claim 18 wherein the vendor is restored to normal operation by reconnecting the hose to the carbonator only after completion of a cleaning cycle.