Ice making and dispensing method and apparatus with increased sanitation

Abstract

Disclosed is an ice making apparatus and method whereby the cleanliness of ice is improved through the use of ozone (O 3 ). The invention utilizes a aspirating injector that is positioned within the water chamber of an ice maker The presence of the ozone within the water inhibits the growth of bacteria and other contaminates. The ozonated water is then used in the production of ice. The invention further discloses a method for retrofitting existing ice makers to benefit from the anti-bacterial uses of ozone.

1 ) A sanitary ice making system comprising: 
 an air pump having an inlet and an air outlet for delivering a flow of air;    an ozone generator for generating a supply of ozone gas comprising 
 an ozone generator intake for receiving an air flow,  
 an ozone outlet for outputting a supply of ozone gas, and  
 a rheostat for regulating the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator;  
   a non-adjustable restrictor permitting a flow rate of approximately 1 liter per minute interconnected with the air outlet of the air pump and the ozone generator intake for restricting the amount of air flowing from the air pump into the ozone generator;    a water chamber for creating ozonated water by entraining ozone within a contained supply of water within the water chamber comprising: 
 an ozone inlet for receiving a supply of ozone gas, the ozone inlet being located within the water chamber and above a top surface of the contained supply of water, whereby ozone gas is delivered into water chamber through the ozone inlet;  
 a water inlet for receiving a supply of water, the water inlet being located within the water chamber and above a top surface of the contained supply of water, whereby water flows down into the water chamber through the water inlet;  
 a float positioned within the water chamber for determining the volume of fluid in the water chamber;  
 a valve, interconnected with the float for disengaging the water inlet to stop the flow of water into the water chamber;  
 an overflow chamber positioned within the water chamber for receiving excess water within the water chamber;  
 an overflow drain positioned at the bottom of the overflow chamber for expelling water from within the overflow chamber; and  
 an output drain positioned at the bottom of the water chamber for expelling ozonated water from within the water chamber;  
   an aspirating injector for delivering ozone gas into the water chamber, comprising a sealed tubing in a z-shaped configuration having a plurality of openings on the superior surface of the sealed tubing;    a flexible ozone transfer line interconnecting the ozone generator with the aspirating injector, whereby ozone is delivered from the ozone generator to the water chamber via the aspirating injector such that ozone becomes entrained within water within the water chamber;    a refrigerated cylindrical evaporator for creating ice having a liquid intake, a motor-driven auger and an exit chute; and    an ozonated water tubing interconnecting the output drain of the water chamber and the liquid intake of the refrigerated cylindrical evaporator whereby the ozonated water tubing transports ozonated water to the refrigerated cylindrical evaporator such that ozonated water is used in the formation of ice.    
   
   
       2 ) A system for creating flaked ice comprising: 
 an ozone source;    a water chamber;    an injector having a plurality of openings whereby the injector is coupled to the ozone source and inserted within the water chamber; and    an evaporator connected to the water chamber.    
   
   
       3 ) The system of  claim 1  whereby the injector is in a z-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       4 ) The system of  claim 1  whereby the injector is in a u-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       5 ) The system of  claim 1  whereby the ozone source further comprises an air pump and an ozone generator.  
   
   
       6 ) The system of  claim 5  further comprising a restrictor interconnecting the air pump with the ozone generator.  
   
   
       7 ) The system of  claim 6  whereby the restrictor is non-adjustable.  
   
   
       8 ) The system of  claim 5  whereby the restrictor restricts the air flow from the air pump to the ozone generator to  1  liter per minute.  
   
   
       9 ) The system of  claim 1  whereby the ozone source further contains a rheostat.  
   
   
       10 ) A method for creating a sanitary ice making system by retrofitting an existing ice maker wherein the existing ice maker contains a water chamber with an air-inlet comprising: 
 installing an air pump having an inlet and an air outlet;    installing an ozone generator for generating a supply of ozone gas having an ozone generator intake for receiving an air flow, an ozone outlet for outputting a supply of ozone gas, and a rheostat for regulating the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator;    interconnecting the air outlet of the air pump with the ozone generator intake of the ozone generator with a non-adjustable restrictor for restricting the amount of air flowing from the air pump into the ozone generator;    attaching an aspirating injector to the ozone outlet of the ozone generator whereby the aspirating injector is a sealed tubing in a z-shaped configuration with a plurality of openings on the superior surface of the aspirating injector;    inserting the aspirating injector into the air-inlet of the ice maker's water chamber such that the aspirating injector is submerged within water within the water chamber whereby the ozone gas expelled through the aspirating injector becomes entrained within water within the water chamber; and    adjusting the rheostat on the ozone generator to output an appropriate amount of ozone to entrain within water within the water chamber.    
   
   
       11 ) A method for retrofitting an ice maker comprising: 
 installing an ozone source;    attaching an injector to the ozone source, where the injector has a plurality of openings; and    inserting the injector into a water supply of the ice maker.    
   
   
       12 ) The method of  claim 11  whereby the injector is in a z-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       13 ) The method of  claim 11  whereby the injector is in a u-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       14 ) The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 installing an air pump; and    interconnecting the air pump with the ozone source.    
   
   
       15 ) The method of  claim 14  whereby the air pump is interconnected with the ozone source using a restrictor.  
   
   
       16 ) The method of  claim 15  whereby the restrictor is non-adjustable.  
   
   
       17 ) The method of  claim 15  whereby the restrictor restricts the air flow from the air pump to the ozone generator to 1 liter per minute.  
   
   
       18 ) The method of  claim 11  whereby the ozone source further contains a rheostat.  
   
   
       19 ) The method of  claim 18  further comprising adjusting the rheostat.