초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for distributing articles is arranged to deliver articles to selected stacking positions in two or more storage units. An article is dispensed to a first article transport and distribution section in a main storage unit, and then either delivered to a stacking position in the

An apparatus and method for distributing articles is arranged to deliver articles to selected stacking positions in two or more storage units. An article is dispensed to a first article transport and distribution section in a main storage unit, and then either delivered to a stacking position in the main unit or transported through a connecting window onto a second transport and distribution section in a satellite storage unit for delivery to a stacking position in that unit. The procedure is repeated to distribute subsequent bags of ice to selected stacking positions in each unit. Additional satellite storage units may be provided and included in the delivery sequence for distributing bags of ice throughout the units. The storage units may be refrigerated, merchandizing units for bagged ice, with the main storage unit associated with an ice bagged ice supply unit which dispenses bags of ice into the unit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A refrigerated bagged ice storage and dispensing system, comprising: a main storage unit and at least a first satellite storage unit arranged side-by-side, the main storage unit having a first storage area and the first satellite storage unit having a second storage area;a first connecting window

1. A refrigerated bagged ice storage and dispensing system, comprising: a main storage unit and at least a first satellite storage unit arranged side-by-side, the main storage unit having a first storage area and the first satellite storage unit having a second storage area;a first connecting window extending between the main and satellite storage areas;a bagged ice supply unit communicating with the main storage unit and configured to supply bags of ice into the main storage unit for distribution into a selected one of the first and second storage areas;a bag transport and distribution assembly having a first article carrier in the first storage area and a second article carrier in the second storage area;the first article carrier being configured to receive a bag of ice from the bagged ice supply unit and to selectively discharge the bag of ice into the first storage area or transfer the bag of ice through the first connecting window into the first satellite storage unit to the second article carrier;the second article carrier being configured to receive the bag of ice from the first article carrier and to discharge the bag of ice into the second storage area; anda controller associated with the bagged ice supply unit and bag transport and distribution assembly and having a bag distribution control module configured to control the bag transport and distribution assembly to transport and discharge bags into the first and second storage areas in a controlled distribution sequence;wherein the main storage unit comprises a first lower wall, the first lower wall being configured to support bags of ice after discharge into the first storage area;wherein the main storage unit further comprises a first vertically-extending surface and a second vertically-extending surface, the first and second vertically-extending surfaces extending vertically upward from the first lower wall and being spaced in parallel relation;wherein the first storage area is at least partially defined between the first and second vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first satellite storage unit comprises a second lower wall, the second lower wall being configured to support bags of ice after discharge into the second storage area;wherein the first satellite storage unit further comprises a third vertically-extending surface and a fourth vertically-extending surface, the third and fourth vertically-extending surfaces extending vertically upward from the second lower wall and being spaced in parallel relation;wherein the second storage area is at least partially defined between the third and fourth vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first article carrier is configured to move in a horizontal transport direction that extends from the main storage unit toward the first satellite storage unit, the horizontal transport direction being perpendicular to each of the first, second, third, and fourth vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first connecting window is at least partially defined by: the second vertically-extending surface of the main storage unit; andthe third vertically-extending surface of the first satellite storage unit;wherein the first vertically-extending surface, the second vertically-extending surface; the third vertically-extending surface, and the fourth vertically-extending surface are spaced in parallel relation with each other;wherein the first connecting window is spaced in parallel relation with at least each of the first and fourth vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first article carrier is configured to move within the first storage area in the horizontal transport direction and in between the first and second vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the second article carrier is configured to move in the horizontal transport direction within the second storage area and in between the third and fourth vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first connecting window extends in the horizontal transport direction from the second vertically-extending surface to the third-vertically extending surface; andwherein the first article carrier comprises a platform, the platform being configured to move, in its entirety, in the horizontal transport direction that extends from the main storage unit toward the first satellite storage unit. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second satellite storage unit located adjacent an opposite side of the main storage unit from the first satellite storage unit, a second connecting window extending between the main and second satellite storage units in an upper region of the storage areas, the second satellite storage unit having a third refrigerated storage area for receiving bags of ice, and the transport and distribution assembly having a third article carrier in the third storage area which is configured to receive bags of ice from the first article carrier through the second connecting window and to transport bags of ice from the second connecting window and discharge bags of ice into the third storage area, and the bag distribution control module being further configured to control the bag transport and distribution assembly to transport and discharge bags into the first, second and third storage areas in a controlled distribution sequence. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite storage unit comprises a cart storage unit and at least a first wheeled cart movably positioned in the cart storage unit beneath the second article carrier, the first wheeled cart having a basket comprising at least part of the second storage area and configured to receive bags of ice discharged from the second article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cart storage unit has at least one access door movable between a closed condition and an open condition for access to the first wheeled cart and bags of ice stored in the first wheeled cart, whereby the first wheeled cart containing bags of ice can be removed and replaced with a second, empty wheeled cart for receiving bags of ice. 5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a separate re-stocking freezer unit configured to receive and store wheeled carts containing bags of ice removed from the cart storage unit. 6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a ramp movable between a stored condition and a deployed condition for wheeling carts into and out of the cart storage unit. 7. The system of claim 3, further comprising a second wheeled cart identical to the first wheeled cart and positioned in the cart storage unit side-by-side with the first wheeled cart, the second article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly being configured to selectively position and discharge bags of ice into the basket of the first or second wheeled cart. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein each storage unit has a storage area configured to receive bags of ice in multiple different stacking positions, and the bag distribution control module is configured to select a storage unit and a stacking position in the selected storage unit for each successive bag distributed onto the first article carrier, and to control the bag transport and distributing assembly to transport the bag to the selected stacking position and discharge the bag into the stacking position. 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a detector assembly configured to detect fill levels at the respective stacking positions in each storage unit and provide current fill level outputs to the controller, the controller including a fill level detection module which receives and stores current fill level outputs and is configured to determine whether stacking positions are at a selected maximum fill level, the distribution control module being configured to control the bag transport and distribution assembly to deliver bags to stacking positions which are not at the selected maximum fill level. 10. An apparatus for distributing serially produced bags of ice into at least two side-by-side refrigerated storage units, comprising: a main storage unit having a first storage area for storing bags of ice;a bagged ice dispenser associated with the main storage unit and configured to dispense bags of ice into the main storage unit;at least one satellite storage unit positioned side-by-side with the main storage unit, the satellite storage unit having a second storage area for storing bags of ice, the first and second storage areas comprising refrigerated storage areas;a divider between the first storage area and the second storage area having a connecting window between the storage areas;a bagged ice transport and distribution assembly having a first article carrier in the main storage unit above the first storage area and a second article carrier in the satellite storage unit above the second storage area;the first article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly being configured to receive bags of ice dispensed from the bagged ice dispenser at a start position, to move from the start position to the connecting window, and to drive the bags of ice through the connecting window;the second article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly being configured to receive bags of ice from the first article carrier and to transport bags of ice away from the connecting window and above the second storage area;each article carrier of the article transport and distribution assembly further comprising an article discharge device configured to discharge bags of ice into the respective storage area; anda controller associated with the bagged ice dispenser and the bagged ice transport and distribution assembly and having a bag distribution control module configured to control the bagged ice transport and distribution assembly to transport and discharge bags of ice into the first and second storage areas in a controlled distribution sequence. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second storage areas comprises a plurality of stacking positions, the first article carrier of the bagged ice transport and distribution assembly is further configured to transport bags of ice to selected discharge positions associated with stacking positions in the main storage unit and the second article carrier of the bagged ice transport and distribution assembly is further configured to transport bags of ice between selected discharge positions associated with stacking positions in the satellite storage unit; and each discharge device is further configured to discharge bags of ice from the respective article carrier at a selected discharge position to fall into a stacking position, selected by the controller, in the respective storage area. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a detector assembly configured to detect fill levels at each stacking position of the plurality of stacking positions in each storage unit and provide current fill level outputs to the controller, the controller including a fill level detection module which receives and stores current fill level outputs and is configured to determine whether each stacking position is at a selected maximum fill level, the distribution control module being configured to control the bag transport and distribution assembly to deliver bags to the stacking positions of the plurality of stacking positions which are not at the selected maximum fill level. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bagged ice dispenser comprises an ice bagging unit associated with the main storage compartment and configured to pack ice in bags and dispense bags of ice serially onto the first article carrier of the article transport and distribution assembly in the main storage compartment, and an ice making unit associated with the ice bagging unit. 14. A method of distributing bagged ice made by serial production into two or more adjacent storage units, comprising: detecting fill levels at stacking positions in each of the adjacent storage units with a detector assembly and providing current fill level outputs to a controller;distributing a bag of ice from a bagged ice dispenser onto a first article carrier of a bagged ice transport and distribution assembly positioned in a start position above a first refrigerated storage area within a main storage unit;selecting a stacking position with the controller to receive the bag of ice;when the stacking position is in the main storage unit, discharging the bag of ice from the first article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly into the selected stacking position of the main storage unit; andwhen the stacking position is in a satellite storage unit, moving the first article carrier from the start position to a connecting window, which extends between the main storage unit and the satellite storage unit, driving the bag of ice from the main storage unit to the satellite storage unit through the connecting window, and onto a second article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly above a second refrigerated storage area of the satellite storage unit and discharging the bag of ice into the selected stacking position of the satellite storage unit. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein satellite storage units comprise at least a first satellite storage unit positioned on one side of the main storage unit and a second satellite storage unit positioned on the opposite side of the main storage unit, wherein detecting fill levels at stacking positions in each of the adjacent storage units with a detector includes detecting fill levels of the stacking positions in the second satellite storage unit, and the step of transporting a bag of ice when the selected stacking position is in the second satellite storage unit comprises driving the bag of ice through a second connecting window between the main and second satellite storage units onto a third article carrier of the bagged ice transport and distribution assembly above the third storage area in the second satellite storage unit and transporting the bag of ice on the third article carrier to the selected stacking position in the third storage area, and discharging the bag of ice from the third article carrier into the selected stacking position. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the bagged ice dispenser comprises an ice bagging unit mounted on top of the main storage compartment, the bagged ice dispenser configured to pack ice in bags and distribute bags of ice serially onto the first article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting fill levels at stacking positions in each of the adjacent storage units with a detector assembly includes monitoring the fill level of stacks of bagged ice at the stacking positions in each storage area; if the stacks in each stacking position are not all at a predetermined stacking level after distributing a bag of ice into a stacking position, distributing another bag of ice to a selected stacking position in the storage area which is not at the predetermined stacking level; and continuing to distribute successive bags of ice into selected stacking positions in the storage areas until the stacks in all stacking positions are at the predetermined stacking level. 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the storage units comprise bagged ice merchandizing units and each storage unit has at least one access door configured for opening by a customer in order to retrieve one or more bags of ice for purchase. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: detecting when an access door of a storage unit is in an opened position, and the controller stopping supply to that storage unit while the access door is detected to be open. 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of selecting a stacking position with the controller to receive the bag of ice further comprising analyzing the current stored fill levels for all of the stacking positions in each storage unit and selecting a stacking position which is not filled to a predetermined capacity. 21. A refrigerated bagged ice storage and dispensing system, comprising: a main storage unit and at least a first satellite storage unit arranged side-by-side, the main storage unit having a first storage area and the first satellite storage unit having a second storage area;a first connecting window extending between the main and satellite storage areas;a bagged ice supply unit communicating with the main storage unit and configured to supply bags of ice into the main storage unit for distribution into a selected one of the first and second storage areas;a bag transport and distribution assembly having a first article carrier in the first storage area;the first article carrier being configured to receive a bag of ice from the bagged ice supply unit and to selectively discharge the bag of ice into the first storage area or transfer the bag of ice through the first connecting window into the first satellite storage unit; anda controller associated with the bagged ice supply unit and bag transport and distribution assembly and having a bag distribution control module configured to control the bag transport and distribution assembly to transport and discharge bags into the first and second storage areas in a controlled distribution sequence;wherein the main storage unit comprises a first lower wall, the first lower wall being configured to support bags of ice after discharge into the first storage area;wherein the main storage unit further comprises a first vertically-extending surface and a second vertically-extending surface, the first and second vertically-extending surfaces extending vertically upward from the first lower wall and being spaced in parallel relation;wherein the first storage area is at least partially defined between the first and second vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first satellite storage unit comprises a second lower wall, the second lower wall being configured to support bags of ice after discharge into the second storage area;wherein the first satellite storage unit further comprises a third vertically-extending surface and a fourth vertically-extending surface, the third and fourth vertically-extending surfaces extending vertically upward from the second lower wall and being spaced in parallel relation;wherein the second storage area is at least partially defined between the third and fourth vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first article carrier is configured to move in a horizontal transport direction that extends from the main storage unit toward the first satellite storage unit, the horizontal transport direction being perpendicular to each of the first, second, third, and fourth vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first connecting window is at least partially defined by: the second vertically-extending surface of the main storage unit; andthe third vertically-extending surface of the first satellite storage unit;wherein the first vertically-extending surface, the second vertically-extending surface, the third vertically-extending surface, and the fourth vertically-extending surface are spaced in parallel relation with each other;wherein the first connecting window is spaced in parallel relation with at least each of the first and fourth vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first article carrier is configured to move within the first storage area in the horizontal transport direction and in between the first and second vertically-extending surfaces;wherein the first connecting window extends in the horizontal transport direction from the second vertically-extending surface to the third-vertically extending surface; andwherein the first article carrier comprises a platform, the platform being configured to move, in its entirety, in the horizontal transport direction that extends from the main storage unit toward the first satellite storage unit. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein each storage unit has a storage area configured to receive bags of ice in multiple different stacking positions, and the bag distribution control module is configured to select a storage unit and a stacking position in the selected storage unit for each successive bag distributed onto the first article carrier, and to control the bag transport and distributing assembly to transport the bag to the selected stacking position and discharge the bag into the stacking position. 23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a detector assembly configured to detect fill levels at the respective stacking positions in each storage unit and provide current fill level outputs to the controller, the controller including a fill level detection module which receives and stores current fill level outputs and is configured to determine whether stacking positions are at a selected maximum fill level, the distribution control module being configured to control the bag transport and distribution assembly to deliver bags to stacking positions which are not at the selected maximum fill level.