US3733840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for inhibiting bacterial growth in automatic icemakers
Assignee: Canteen Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-17
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-05-17
Abstract
Abstract In an automatic icemaker of the type used in automatic vending machines, the ice cubes, chunks or slush are normally stored in a compartment. In many instances melt-down liquid from the stored ice is allowed or circulated to return and join the water in the freezing chamber. With water at these low temperature levels, the network must be cleaned out periodically to prevent growth of bacteria, slime and other contaminants, both in the storage compartment and in the entire water network. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically sanitizing the water network periodically. The sanitizing cycle includes heating the water in the network to a sanitizing temperature and recirculating the heated water throughout the network. Stored ice is melted and its water may be allowed to join with the circulating water. Once the water in the network has reached the desired sanitizing temperature, it is maintained at that level long enough to ensure the destruction of any bacteria and slime which may have formed. Naturally the sanitizing cycle is set to occur during periods when the icemaker is normally not being used.
Inventors
- 👤 D Pearl
- 👤 A Gross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:44
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F13/00; G07F13/06; G07F13/065; F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
The process of sanitizing an automatic icemaker system comprising the steps of: initiating the process to heat the liquid in the system, circulating the heated liquid through the system to deter and prevent the growth of bacteria in the system, maintaining the heating and circulating in effect until the heated liquid in the system has sanitized the system, terminating the heating thereafter to allow the system to return to normal, maintaining a deterrent to use of the system as long as the process remains in effect, and for automatically restoring said system to its normal functional condition after the termination of the heating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
The process of sanitizing an automatic icemaker system comprising the steps of: initiating the process to heat the liquid in the system, circulating the heated liquid through the system to deter and prevent the growth of bacteria in the system, maintaining the heating and circulating in effect until the heated liquid in the system has sanitized the system, terminating the heating thereafter to allow the system to return to normal, maintaining a deterrent to use of the system as long as the process remains in effect, and for automatically restoring said system to its normal functional condition after the termination of the heating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of circulating the heated liquid through an ice storage compartment within said system to melt any ice in said compartment and allow said melted ice to join said circulating liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the duration of said maintaining of the heating is time controlled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the duration of said maintaining of the heating is condition controlled.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for sanitizing an automatic icemaker fed with liquid from a liquid storage tank over a feed path, comprising a recirculatory network from said storage tank to said icemaker, means for automatically initiating the operation of said apparatus, mean operative responsive to said initiation to heat the liquid in said path, means in said recirculatory network operative to transmit liquid to said icemaker for continuous flow to said tank over said feed path, means settable to operate said heating means for a period sufficient to raise the temperature of the liquid to a sanitizing level and for maintaining said operation of said heating and transmitting means for such period, means operable during said operating period to deter normal use of said apparatus, and means operative automatically following the end of said period for rendering said deterring means inoperative.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for sanitizing an automatic icemaker fed with liquid from a liquid storage tank over a feed path, comprising a recirculatory network from said storage tank to said icemaker, means for automatically initiating the operation of said apparatus, mean operative responsive to said initiation to heat the liquid in said path, means in said recirculatory network operative to transmit liquid to said icemaker for continuous flow to said tank over said feed path, means settable to operate said heating means for a period sufficient to raise the temperature of the liquid to a sanitizing level and for maintaining said operation of said heating and transmitting means for such period, means operable during said operating period to deter normal use of said apparatus, and means operative automatically following the end of said period for rendering said deterring means inoperative.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein there is an ice storage compartment receptive of ice made in said icemaker and means for causing the circulatory flow to reach said compartment and melt ice for passing melted ice into said recirculatory network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein there are means from said compartment for normally feeding back melted liquid to said feed path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
A sanitizing apparatus for a cold drink vending machine equipped with a water circulating system including an automatic icemaker, an ice storage compartment for storing ice received from said icemaker, a water storage tank for feeding water to said icemakers; the invention comprising means operative to heat water within said system, a recirculatory network interposed between said tank and said icemaker, means in said network operative to pass the heated water through to said icemaker and to said compartment, and means for maintaining said heating means and circulating means operative during a period sufficient to raise the temperature of water in said apparatus to a sanitizing level and means for inhibiting use of said machine during said period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
A sanitizing apparatus for a cold drink vending machine equipped with a water circulating system including an automatic icemaker, an ice storage compartment for storing ice received from said icemaker, a water storage tank for feeding water to said icemakers; the invention comprising means operative to heat water within said system, a recirculatory network interposed between said tank and said icemaker, means in said network operative to pass the heated water through to said icemaker and to said compartment, and means for maintaining said heating means and circulating means operative during a period sufficient to raise the temperature of water in said apparatus to a sanitizing level and means for inhibiting use of said machine during said period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said compartment is positioned to receive ice normally from said icemaker and to return melt-down liquid from said compartment, and said circulating means are furtheR operative to circulate said heated water to said compartment to melt the ice therein, and wherein said maintaining means comprising a timer means settable for a timed period of operation of said apparatus sufficient to elevate the temperature of water in the network to a sanitizing level, and means operative at the conclusion of said period for removing the inhibition against use of said machine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said maintaining means includes means for automatically initiating the operation of said heating means and said circulating means at cyclically recurring intervals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a cold drink vending machine equipped with an automatic icemaker in which there is a circulating system for feeding ice forming liquid to said icemaker, an ice storage compartment and means for feeding melt liquid from said compartment into said circulation system; the invention comprising bacterial growth prevention apparatus operative automatically, heating means responsive to operation of said apparatus for heating the liquid in said system, means in said system for recirculating liquid continuously through said system and into said icemaker and storage compartment, means for maintaining the response of said heating means for a period sufficient to elevate the temperature of the liquid in said system to bacterial growth prevention levels, and for maintaining circulation of the heated liquid to said compartment and said icemaker, means for preventing the normal operation of said machine during said period, and means in said apparatus responsive to the termination of said period for restoring the machine to its normal condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a cold drink vending machine equipped with an automatic icemaker in which there is a circulating system for feeding ice forming liquid to said icemaker, an ice storage compartment and means for feeding melt liquid from said compartment into said circulation system; the invention comprising bacterial growth prevention apparatus operative automatically, heating means responsive to operation of said apparatus for heating the liquid in said system, means in said system for recirculating liquid continuously through said system and into said icemaker and storage compartment, means for maintaining the response of said heating means for a period sufficient to elevate the temperature of the liquid in said system to bacterial growth prevention levels, and for maintaining circulation of the heated liquid to said compartment and said icemaker, means for preventing the normal operation of said machine during said period, and means in said apparatus responsive to the termination of said period for restoring the machine to its normal condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said recirculatory means comprises a recirculatory line, a pump therein for recirculating heated liquid and valve means in said line for channeling recirculation through said system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a cold drink vending machine equipped with an automatic icemaker, including a circulation system for feeding ice forming liquid to said icemaker, an ice storage compartment and means for feeding melt liquid from said compartment into said circulation system; the invention comprising bacterial growth prevention apparatus, means automatically initiating operation of said apparatus, heating means responsive to operation of said apparatus for heating the liquid in said system, means in said system responsive to operation of said apparatus for recirculating liquid continuously through said system and into said icemaker and said storage compartment, means for maintaining the response of said heating means for a period sufficient to raise the temperature of the liquid in said system to levels destructive of bacterial growth in the storage compartment, and for maintaining circulation of heated liquid to said compartment and said icemaker, and means in said apparatus responsive to the termination of said period for rendering said heating means and recirculating means inoperative.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a cold drink vending machine equipped with an automatic icemaker, including a circulation system for feeding ice forming liquid to said icemaker, an ice storage compartment and means for feeding melt liquid from said compartment into said circulation system; the invention comprising bacterial growth prevention apparatus, means automatically initiating operation of said apparatus, heating means responsive to operation of said apparatus for heating the liquid in said system, means in said system responsive to operation of said apparatus for recirculating liquid continuously through said system and into said icemaker and said storage compartment, means for maintaining the response of said heating means for a period sufficient to raise the temperature of the liquid in said system to levels destructive of bacterial growth in the storage compartment, and for maintaining circulation of heated liquid to said compartment and said icemaker, and means in said apparatus responsive to the termination of said period for rendering said heating means and recirculating means inoperative.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein there is a water tank for feeding fresh water to said system, and said heating means comprises means for heating the water in said tank for recirculation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |