Vending apparatus providing bulk or bagged ice

Abstract

An ice vending apparatus and self contained building for making, bagging, and delivering a user sealed bag or bulk amount of ice to a consumer. A conveyor is placed beneath an ice crusher and is constructed and arranged to deliver ice to a bagger holder and, depending upon the election of the consumer, the ice is either directed to a bagger and delivered through a bagger chute, or directed to a bulk chute where the consumer uses their own receptacle. The building is specifically designed for the vending apparatus and is capable of handling hurricane force winds and is sized to place all components within an environment having a uniform temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for distributing bulk or bagged ice comprising the steps of:
 initiating an operating program;   activating a crusher auger within a crusher box to break ice from a reservoir into roughly uniform pieces;   dropping said ice pieces into a weighing box;   measuring the weight of said weighing box with a scale;   dropping said ice pieces from said weighing box onto a conveyor belt upon the weight of said weighing box reaching a predetermined weight based on said operating program;   transporting said ice pieces on said conveyor belt to a dispensing chute;   dropping said ice pieces into said dispensing chute, whereby a user can collect said ice pieces from said dispensing chute.   
     
     
         2 . The method for distributing bulk or bagged ice of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of depositing said ice pieces from said conveyor belt into a bag within a bag hopper. 
     
     
         3 . The method for distributing bulk or bagged ice of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing an initial weight of ice in said weighing box prior to initiation of said operating program. 
     
     
         4 . The method for distributing bulk or bagged ice of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of refilling said weighing box with said initial weight of ice after said ice pieces have been dropped onto said conveyor belt. 
     
     
         5 . The method for distributing bulk or bagged ice of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of shutting off said crusher auger when weighing box has been refilled to said initial weight of ice. 
     
     
         6 . The method for distributing bulk or bagged ice of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of activating said conveyor belt upon said weighing box reaching said predetermined weight. 
     
     
         7 . The method for distributing bulk or bagged ice of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of stopping said conveyor belt after said ice pieces have been delivered though said dispensing chute. 
     
     
         8 . A vending apparatus for dispensing bulk or bagged ice comprising:
 a housing defined by a front and back wall, two opposing side walls, a top and a bottom, creating an interior space that is refrigerated;   an ice maker mounted said interior space, said ice maker having a outlet for dispensing ice;   a storage bin within said interior space and positioned beneath said ice maker, said storage bin for receipt of ice from said ice maker, said storage bin having an open top, two sets of opposing sidewalls, and a bottom, said bottom having an aperture constructed and arranged to pass a predetermined amount of ice to said storage bin;   a crusher box coupled to said storage bin for collecting a volume of said ice, said crusher box having opposing sidewalls, and a bottom side;   means for crushing the ice into predetermined sized pieces and passing said sized pieces through an aperture on said bottom side of said crusher box;   a weighing box for receipt of said crushed ice in response to a scale coupled to said weighing box to measure the weight of said ice within said weighing box;   means for depositing ice from said weighing box onto a conveyor belt when said scale measures a predetermined weight of ice, said conveyor belt transferring the ice from a refrigerated section to a dispensing chute having a top aperture for delivery of bulk ice and a lower aperture for coupling to a bagger for delivery of ice within a bag.   
     
     
         9 . The vending apparatus of  claim 8  including a refrigeration means within said interior space of said housing for regulating the temperature within said housing and a portion of each said dispensing chute. 
     
     
         10 . The vending apparatus of  claim 8  including a programmable computer coupled to said crusher auger and said scale, said computer calculating the weight of the ice and timing of the crusher auger operation wherein upon a predetermined weight of ice said computer releases said crusher auger to deposit said ice onto said conveyor belt and selection of either said upper or lower aperture for delivery. 
     
     
         11 . The vending apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising an initiating mechanism on said housing, said initiating mechanism coupled to said computer for determining the amount of ice to be delivered and the type of delivery. 
     
     
         12 . The vending apparatus of  claim 8  including a diverter flap mounted within a dispensing chute for directional deliver into either said top aperture for delivery of bulk ice or said bottom aperture for delivery of bagged ice. 
     
     
         13 . The vending apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a bag hopper and at least one bag, constructed and arranged at said top aperture of said dispensing chute, whereby said conveyor belt deposits said ice into said bag hopper and said bag being deposited into said dispensing chute. 
     
     
         14 . The vending apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said crusher box is positioned above said weighing box, said weighting box. 
     
     
         15 . The vending apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said weighing box is preloaded with a predetermined amount of ice to allow for faster delivery to said weighting box. 
     
     
         16 . The vending apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said weighing box is preloaded with a predetermined amount of ice to allow for faster delivery to said weighting box.