The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1994
Noboru Chigira, Saitama, JP;
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Loriguchi, JP;
Abstract
An ice feeder stores ice in an ice container, and supplies ice from an ice gate provided in the ice container through a supply passage extending therefrom. A sensor arranged on the supply passage detects passage of ice delivered to generate a detection signal. An amount of delivered ice is measured based on the detection signal from the sensor. When a time required for the amount of delivered ice to reach a predetermined value exceeds a predetermined time period, a signal indicative of no ice stock is generated. Alternatively, when the amount of ice delivered within a predetermined time period does not reach a predetermined amount, the signal indicative of no ice stock is generated.