Ice dispenser for cubed or crushed ice

Abstract

An ice dispenser for cubed or crushed ice is presented in a self contained modular design that can be used for commercial and consumer applications. A two-motor system is provided for the auger and ice crusher and features a motor driven bypass gate system with a worm drive to bypass the ice crusher when cubed ice is selected. A flexible bladed paddle at the end of an auger exerts a positive force to push ice into the crusher and touches the wall of a containing duct for reduction of ice jams. The ice crusher employs a unique roller chain sprocket or timing belt and pulley system for greater flexibility in mounting and maintaining compactness. There is also provided an ice chute with two inlet paths and all of the operations are managed by electronic controls which includes monitor means sensing motor current draws to detect an ice jam and programmed control means to rotate said drivers to free an ice jam.

1 . An ice dispenser for use with a source of cube ice, said dispenser comprising: 
 a duct means that extends from said ice source, said duct having first and second outlets;    a chute extending from the duct first and second outlets;    an ice crusher between said duct and said chute to crush ice discharged through the duct first outlet;    a motor driven gate moveably attached to said duct that has a first position in which said gate allows ice flow through one of the duct first or second outlets and blocks flow through the other of the duct first or second outlets, and a second position in which said gate blocks flow through said one of the duct first or second outlets, and allows flow through the other of the duct first or second outlets; and    control means for selectively moving said gate to either the first or second position.    
   
   
       2 . An ice dispenser of  claim 1 , further including a driver moveably mounted to said duct to move ice to the duct first and second outlets.  
   
   
       3 . The ice dispenser of  claim 2  wherein said driver comprises a motor driven auger disposed in said duct to move ice to the duct first and second outlets.  
   
   
       4 . The ice dispenser of  claim 2  further comprising a crusher motor for driving said ice crusher and a driver motor for driving said auger driver, said crusher motor and said auger driver motor having independently controllable means.  
   
   
       5 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , further including a motor operated driver moveably mounted to said duct to urge ice out of the duct first outlet and toward said ice crusher.  
   
   
       6 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a first driver is moveably mounted to said duct to move ice to the first and second duct outlets; and    a second driver is moveably mounted to said duct to move ice out of the duct first outlet and towards said ice crusher;    wherein said first and second drivers are attached to a common drive unit that simultaneously actuates said drivers.    
   
   
       7 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said duct has an inlet opening through which cube ice from said ice source is received and the first and second outlets are spaced from the inlet opening;    a first driver is moveably mounted to said duct to move ice from the inlet opening towards the first and second duct outlets;    said gate is moveably mounted to said duct to extend over and retract away from the one duct outlet with which said gate is associated; and    a second driver is moveably mounted to said duct to urge ice through the duct first outlet opening and towards said ice crusher.    
   
   
       8 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said duct has an inlet opening through which ice from said ice bin is received, the first outlet is distal to the inlet opening and the second outlet is proximal to the inlet opening;    said gate is moveably mounted to said duct to extend over and retract away from the duct second outlet opening; and    a paddle blade driver is moveably mounted to said duct to urge ice through the duct first outlet and towards said ice crusher.    
   
   
       9 . An ice dispenser adapted to be used with a source of cube ice comprising: 
 a duct that extends from said ice source, said duct having an inlet opening through which ice enters from said ice source and first and second outlet openings spaced from the inlet opening;    a first driver moveably mounted to said duct that urges ice from the inlet opening towards the first and second outlet openings;    a motor driven gate moveably attached to said duct that has a first position in which said gate allows flow to and through one of the duct first or second outlet openings and a second position in which said gate blocks flow through said one of the duct first or second outlet openings;    an ice crusher positioned to receive ice from the duct second outlet opening; and    a chute extending from the duct first opening and from said ice crusher, said chute having a single discharge opening adjacent said dispensing head assemblies, and motor drive means for respectively operating said first driver, said gate and said ice crusher.    
   
   
       10 . The ice dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein said first driver is an auger.  
   
   
       11 . The ice dispenser of  claim 9  further comprising a crusher motor for driving said ice crusher and a driver motor for driving said first driver, said crusher motor and said driver motor being independently controllable.  
   
   
       12 . The ice dispenser of  claim 9 , further including a second driver having flexible paddles moveably mounted to said duct to urge ice out of the duct second opening and towards said ice crusher.  
   
   
       13 . The ice dispenser of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said gate is motor driven moveably mounted to said duct to extend over and retract away from the one duct outlet opening with which said gate is associated; and    when said gate extends over the duct outlet opening with which said gate is associated, said gate is located between the one duct outlet opening and said chute.    
   
   
       14 . The ice dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the duct first outlet opening is proximal to the duct inlet opening and the duct second outlet opening is distal to the duct inlet opening;    said gate is moveably mounted to said duct to extend over and retract away from the duct first outlet opening and, when said gate extends over the duct first outlet opening, said gate is located between the duct first outlet opening and said chute;    a second driver is moveably mounted in said duct to urge ice through the duct second outlet opening and towards said ice crusher.    
   
   
       15 . An ice dispenser adapted to be used with a source of cube ice, said ice dispenser comprising: 
 an ice crusher;    a duct having an inner wall extending between said ice source and said ice crusher, said duct being formed with a bypass opening that is spaced from said ice crusher;    a motor driven gate moveably mounted to said duct and positioned to selectively block flow to the ice crusher or through the duct bypass opening; and    a chute positioned to receive ice from the ice crusher and the duct bypass opening, said chute having a common discharge opening for ice from said ice crusher and from the duct bypass opening.    
   
   
       16 . The ice dispenser of  claim 15 , further including a motor driven auger means moveably mounted to said duct for urging ice from said ice bin to said ice crusher and the duct bypass opening.  
   
   
       17 . The ice dispenser of  claim 15 , further including a flexible paddle bladed driver mounted to said duct adjacent said ice crusher that urges ice towards said ice crusher.  
   
   
       18 . The ice dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a first driver is moveably mounted to said duct to urge ice from said ice bin to said ice crusher and the duct bypass opening;    a second driver is moveably mounted to said duct to urge ice out of the duct and towards said ice crusher; and    said first and second drivers are attached to a common drive unit that simultaneously actuates said drivers.    
   
   
       19 . The ice dispenser of  claim 18  further comprising a crusher motor for driving said ice crusher and a driver motor for driving said first and second drivers, said crusher motor and said driver motor being independently controllable.  
   
   
       20 . The ice dispenser of  claim 15  wherein: 
 said duct is formed with an inlet opening through which ice enters from said ice crusher, said ice crusher is mounted to said duct to be distal from the inlet opening and the bypass opening is formed in said duct to be proximal to the inlet opening;    said gate is moveably mounted to said duct to extend over and retract away from the duct bypass opening; and    when said gate extends over the duct bypass opening, said gate is located between said duct and said chute.    
   
   
       21 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the components are integrated into a single modular assembly.  
   
   
       22 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said paddle blades touch the inner wall of said duct.  
   
   
       23 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 11  wherein an ice crusher motor drives the crusher through a roller chain and sprocket.  
   
   
       24 . The ice crusher as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said ice crusher motor drives the crusher through a timing belt and pulleys.  
   
   
       25 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 19  wherein electronic control means manages all of the operations of the ice dispenser including selection input, position of bypass gate, and driver motor speeds.  
   
   
       26 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said electronic control means includes monitor means for detecting an ice jam and programmed control means to rotate selective ones of said drivers in a predetermined manner to free said ice jams.  
   
   
       27 . An ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said monitor means senses current draw of said motors to detect an ice jam.  
   
   
       28 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said motor gate drive includes a worm gear driver.  
   
   
       29 . An ice dispenser for use with a source of cube ice, said dispenser comprising: 
 a duct means that extends from said ice source, said duct having an outlet means;    a chute extending from the duct outlet means;    an ice crusher between said duct and said chute to crush ice discharged through the duct outlet means;    a first driver moveably mounted to said duct to move ice through the duct to the outlet; and    a second driver mounted to said duct having more ice to the outlet means.    
   
   
       30 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said first driver comprises a motor driven auger disposed in said duct and said second driver comprises a flexible bladed paddle.  
   
   
       31 . The ice dispenser of  claim 29 , wherein said first and second drivers are attached to a common drive unit that simultaneously actuates said drivers.  
   
   
       32 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said auger and said flexible bladed paddle are attached in common line from said motor.  
   
   
       33 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 29  wherein an ice crusher motor drives the crusher through a roller chain and sprocket.  
   
   
       34 . The ice dispenser of  claim 29  wherein: 
 said duct is formed with an inlet opening through which ice enters from said ice crusher, said ice crusher is mounted to said duct to be distal from the inlet opening and a bypass opening is formed in said duct to be proximal to the inlet opening;    a motor driven gate is moveably mounted to said duct to extend over and retract away from the duct bypass opening; and    
   
   
       35 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the components are integrated into a single modular assembly.  
   
   
       36 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 30  wherein said paddle blades touch the inner wall of said duct.  
   
   
       37 . The ice dispenser of  claim 29  further comprising a crusher motor for driving said ice crusher and a driver motor for driving said first and second drivers, said crusher motor and said driver motor being independently controllable.  
   
   
       38 . The ice dispenser of  claim 29 , wherein said first driver is a rigid.  
   
   
       39 . The ice dispenser of  claim 29 , further including a second driver having flexible paddles moveably mounted to said duct to urge ice out of the duct second opening and towards said ice crusher.  
   
   
       40 . The ice dispenser of  claim 29  wherein: 
 a motor driven gate is moveably mounted to said duct to extend over and retract away from the duct outlet opening means with which said gate is associated; and    when said gate extends over the duct outlet opening with which said gate is associated, said gate is located between the duct outlet opening and said chute.    
   
   
       41 . An ice dispenser adapted to be used with a source of cube ice, said ice dispenser comprising: 
 an ice crusher;    a duct having an inner wall extending between said ice source and said ice crusher, said duct being formed with an opening means that is spaced from said ice crusher;    a chute positioned to receive ice from the ice crusher and the duct opening means, said chute having a common discharge opening for ice from said ice crusher and from the duct opening means;    a motor driven auger moveably mounted in said duct to move ice toward said duct opening means; and    a flexible bladed paddle means commonly mounted with said auger to move ice towards said crusher.    
   
   
       42 . The ice crusher as claimed in  claim 37  wherein said ice crusher motor drives the crusher through a timing belt and pulleys.  
   
   
       43 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 34  wherein electronic control means manages all of the operations of the ice dispenser including selection input, position of bypass gate, and driver motor speeds.  
   
   
       44 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 43  wherein said electronic control means includes monitor means for detecting an ice jam and programmed control means to rotate selective ones of said drivers in a predetermined manner to free said ice jams.  
   
   
       45 . An ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 44  wherein said monitor means senses current draw of said motors to detect an ice jam.  
   
   
       46 . The ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said motor gate drive includes a worm gear driver.  
   
   
       47 . An ice crusher as claimed in  claim 41  wherein electronic control means manages the operations of the motor  
   
   
       48 . An ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 41  wherein said electronic control means includes monitor means for detecting an ice jam and programmed control means to rotate selections of said drivers in a predetermined manner to free said ice jams.  
   
   
       49 . An ice dispenser as claimed in  claim 48  wherein said monitor means sensnes current draw of said motors.