Ice-making machine with air sterilization feature

Abstract

An ice-making machine includes an ice-forming mold in a food zone of the ice-making machine; a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator in thermal contact with said ice-forming mold, thus producing a combined evaporator and ice-forming mold; and a bulkhead wall separating an equipment compartment from the food zone. A bulkhead space is located between the bulkhead wall and the combined evaporator and ice-forming mold. The bulkhead space is part of the food zone. Air in contact with ice being formed by the ice-making machine can circulate to the bulkhead space. A source of antimicrobially active gas and an air circulation system that causes the antimicrobially active gas to circulate through the bulkhead space. In use, the antimicrobially active gas flows though the bulkhead space to thereby distribute the antimicrobially active gas throughout the bulkhead space, thus inhibiting growth of microbiological contaminates.

1 . A method of inhibiting growth of microbiological contaminates in a food zone within an ice-making machine, wherein the ice-making machine comprises an ice-forming mold in the food zone; a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator in thermal contact with said ice-forming mold, thus producing a combined evaporator and ice-forming mold; a bulkhead wall separating an equipment compartment from the food zone; and a bulkhead space located between the bulkhead wall and the combined evaporator and ice-forming mold, the bulkhead space being a part of the food zone, such that air in contact with ice being formed by the ice-making machine can circulate to the bulkhead space; the method comprising:
 a) providing a source of antimicrobially active gas; and   b) directing the antimicrobially active gas to flow though the bulkhead space to thereby distribute the antimicrobially active gas throughout the bulkhead space.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bulkhead space is generally closed off from the remainder of the food zone along at least one side of the ice-forming mold, and the antimicrobially active gas is directed through the bulkhead space by withdrawing air from the bulkhead space near said at least one side while providing a source of antimicrobially active gas adjacent the bulkhead space opposite said at least one side, and allowing the antimicrobially active gas to flow into the bulkhead space as air is withdrawn. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the air withdrawn from the bulkhead space is drawn into an ionizing device via a tube, and the ionizing device ionizes components in the air in the ionizing device and then discharges that air into the food zone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the ionizing device is located in the equipment compartment, and the tube that draws air out of the bulkhead space penetrates through the bulkhead wall, and a tube is used to discharge the antimicrobially active gas from the ionizing device, that discharge tube penetrating through the bulkhead wall. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein a trim piece connected to the ice-forming mold generally closes off the bulkhead space from the remainder of the food zone along said at least one side of the ice-forming mold, and the discharge tube from the ionizing device also passes through the trim piece to discharge the air on the side of the combined evaporator and ice-forming mold opposite the bulkhead space. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein a trim piece connected to the ice-forming mold generally closes off the bulkhead space from the remainder of the food zone along said at least one side of the ice-forming mold, and the ionizing device is located in the food zone, and the tube that draws air out of the bulkhead space penetrates through the trim piece. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the antimicrobially active gas is discharged from the ionizing device directly into the food zone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the ionizing device comprises a housing, an ion generator and a fan, and the fan forces air to i) be drawn into the housing, ii) pass the ion generator and iii) discharge from the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobially active gas is directed through the bulkhead space by introducing the antimicrobially active gas into a region of the bulkhead space distant from an outlet of the bulkhead space and causing the incoming air containing the antimicrobially active gas to displace air already in the bulkhead space. 
     
     
         10 . An ice-making machine comprising:
 a) an ice-forming mold in a food zone of the ice-making machine;   b) a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator in thermal contact with said ice-forming mold, thus producing a combined evaporator and ice-forming mold;   c) a bulkhead wall separating an equipment compartment from the food zone;   d) a bulkhead space located between the bulkhead wall and the combined evaporator and ice-forming mold, the bulkhead space being a part of the food zone, such that air in contact with ice being formed by the ice-making machine can circulate to the bulkhead space;   e) a source of antimicrobially active gas; and   f) an air circulation system that causes the antimicrobially active gas to circulate through the bulkhead space.   
     
     
         11 . The ice-making machine of  claim 10  wherein the bulkhead space is generally closed off from the remainder of the food zone along at least one side of the ice-forming mold, and the air circulation system causes the antimicrobially active gas to circulate through the bulkhead space by withdrawing air from the bulkhead space near said at least one side while providing a source of antimicrobially active gas adjacent the bulkhead space opposite said at least one side, and allowing the antimicrobially active gas to flow into the bulkhead space as air is withdrawn. 
     
     
         12 . The ice-making machine of  claim 10  wherein the air circulation system comprises a housing containing a fan and tubing connected to the housing through which air is drawn into the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The ice-making machine of  claim 12  wherein the tubing connected to the housing through which air is drawn into the housing has an inlet located in the bulkhead space. 
     
     
         14 . The ice-making machine of  claim 10  wherein the source of antimicrobially active gas comprises an ionizing device located in the ice-making machine. 
     
     
         15 . The ice-making machine of  claim 14  wherein the ionizing device is located in the equipment compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The ice-making machine of  claim 14  wherein the ionizing device is located in the food zone. 
     
     
         17 . The ice-making machine of  claim 15  wherein the ionizing device is connected to the bulkhead space by an intake tube that penetrates through the bulkhead wall, and discharges the antimicrobially active gas through a discharge tube that penetrates through the bulkhead wall. 
     
     
         18 . The ice-making machine of  claim 17  wherein the bulkhead space is generally closed off from the remainder of the food zone along at least one side of the ice-forming mold by a trim piece connected to the ice-forming mold, and the discharge tube from the ionizing device also passes through the trim piece to discharge the antimicrobially active gas on the side of the combined evaporator and ice-forming mold opposite the bulkhead space. 
     
     
         19 . The ice-making machine of  claim 16  wherein the bulkhead space is generally closed off from the remainder of the food zone along said at least one side of the ice-forming mold by a trim piece connected to the ice-forming mold, and an intake tube penetrates through the trim piece and is used to withdraw air out of the bulkhead space into the ionizing device.