U.S. patent number 3,608,786 [Application Number 04/862,587] was granted by the patent office on 1971-09-28 for portable auger lift cubed ice dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Shelley Manufacturing Company. Invention is credited to Arthur B. Dixon, Bruce House, George R. Shelley, Robert J. Shelly, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,608,786 |
Shelley , et al. |
September 28, 1971 |
PORTABLE AUGER LIFT CUBED ICE DISPENSER
Abstract
A portable, low center of gravity ice dispenser for
automatically dispensing predetermined portions of cubed, cracked
or crushed ice is described, including an ice bin supplied with the
ice to be dispensed and an ice elevating mechanism in the form of
an auger having an ice feeder disc at its lower end and an auger
tube within which the auger turns for elevating the ice. The auger
is driven from the top by an electrical drive means, and is
mechanically connected at its lower end to agitator means for
feeding ice from the bin to the auger disc. The auger-elevating
mechanism and the agitator mechanism are readily disassembled for
cleaning.
Inventors: |
Shelley; George R. (Miami,
FL), Shelly, Jr.; Robert J. (Miami, FL), Dixon; Arthur
B. (Miami, FL), House; Bruce (Miami, FL) |
Assignee: |
Shelley Manufacturing Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
25338812 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/862,587 |
Filed: |
August 25, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/232; 15/353;
222/413; 222/233 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C
5/20 (20180101); F25C 1/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F25C
1/00 (20060101); F25C 5/00 (20060101); G01f
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/213,214,215
;222/413,414,412,409,411,211,232,233,234,235,227,239,240,241,242,333 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr; M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Love; John J.
Claims
What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in
combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from
the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above
said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an
auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power
unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger
at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said
auger for rotation (and) in unison therewith, at least a portion of
the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the
lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube
above said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving
ice in said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation
within said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube
having a discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said auger
tube being of such cross-sectional shape as to provide a pair of
substantially radially directed wall portions extending vertically
along substantially the full length of said auger tube, said
radially extending wall portions being interjoined by a pair of
opposed, mutually offset, semicylindrical wall portions integrally
formed with said radially directed wall portions.
2. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said auger is in
the form of a twisted elongated plate.
3. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 1 including agitator means
cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in
said bin in the direction of said auger disc.
4. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in
combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from
the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above
said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an
auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power
unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger
at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said
auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the
lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower
end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above
said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in
said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within
said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a
discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, agitator means
cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in
said bin in the direction of said auger disc, said agitator means
comprising an agitator drive unit removably received in the bottom
of said bin and having inclined bottom and sidewall portions
extending downwardly in the direction of said auger disc, an
agitator member having inclined bottom and sidewall portions
complemental in shape to those of said agitator drive unit, said
agitator member being removably received upon said agitator drive
unit for sliding motion along the direction of inclination of said
agitator drive unit, said agitator means including crank means
drivingly interconnecting said drive unit with the lower end of
said auger for reciprocatively moving said agitator member upon the
rotation of said auger.
5. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein said agitator
drive member comprises an upstanding divider post operative to
choppingly engage with ice in said ice bin to minimize any
possibility of so-called "ice-bridging."
6. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 5, wherein said crank drive
means comprises a bearing plate journaled in said agitator drive
unit and having at its upper end indexing means for rotative
interconnection with the underside of said auger disc, a crank
member extending from the lower end of said bearing plate, a
connector arm eccentrically journaled at one end with said crank
member, said connector arm having an upturned outer end portion
extending through an elongated slot in said bottom wall portion of
said agitator drive unit and a circular opening in the bottom wall
portion of said agitator member.
7. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in
combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from
the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above
said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an
auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power
unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger
at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said
auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the
lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower
end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above
said auger disc, said auger disc including means for moving ice in
said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within
said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a
discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said power unit being
arranged above said ice bin and wherein said drive means comprising
an electric motor operative to drive said auger at the upper end
thereof, said elongated auger being in the form of a twisted
elongated plate, said auger tube being of such cross-sectional
shape as to provide a pair of substantially radially directed wall
portions extending vertically along substantially the full length
of said auger tube, said radially extending wall portions being
interjoined by a pair of opposed, mutually offset, semicylindrical
wall portions integrally formed with said radially directed wall
portions.
8. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 7, including agitator means
cooperatively driven with said auger and operative to shake ice in
said bin in the direction of said auger disc.
9. A cubed, crushed or cracked ice dispenser comprising, in
combination, an ice bin, rotative auger means for lifting ice from
the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position above
said ice bin, said auger means comprising an elongated auger and an
auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journaled, a power
unit having drive means operative to rotatively actuate said auger
at one end thereof, an auger disc affixed to the lower end of said
auger for rotation in unison therewith, at least a portion of the
lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short of the lower
end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tube above
said auger disc, said auger disk including means disc moving ice in
said bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation within
said tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having a
discharge opening for the dispensing of ice, said power unit
comprising a housing swingably journaled with respect to an upper
end portion of said ice bin, said auger tube being relatively fixed
to said power unit and extending outwardly of the underside
thereof, said drive means comprising a drive pin journaled in the
upper end of said auger tube, and releasable means for drivingly
interconnecting said drive pin with the upper end of said
auger.
10. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 9, comprising prestressed
torsion spring means providing a reactive force against
free-swinging movement of said housing with respect to said ice
bin.
11. Mechanism for elevating cubed, crushed, or cracked ice
comprising, in combination, an auger, an auger tube, means
rotatively journaling said auger coaxially in said auger tube,
drive means for rotating said auger in said auger tube, an auger
disc affixed to the lower end of said auger tube to rotate in
unison therewith, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger
tube extending somewhat short of the lower end of said auger to
provide an entrance to said auger above said auger disc, said auger
disc including means for moving ice in the direction of said
entrance for elevation within said tube by said auger, the upper
end of said auger tube having a discharge opening for the
dispensing of ice, said auger tube being of such cross-sectional
shape as to provide a pair of opposed, substantially radially
directed wall portions extending vertically along substantially the
full length of said auger tube, said radially extending wall
portions being interjoined by a pair of opposed, mutually offset,
semicylindrical wall portions integrally formed with said radially
directed wall portions.
12. An ice-lifting mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein said
auger disc ice-moving means comprises a plurality of arcuate ribs
formed in the upper surface of said auger disc.
Description
This invention relates to ice-dispensing equipment and is directed
particularly to an improved automatic cubed, crushed or cracked
ice-dispensing unit for commercial use such as in dining areas,
food-serving lines, waitress stations, bars, hotels, hospitals, and
the like places where large or small portions of such ice are
required for cooling drinking water or beverages.
Devices for automatically dispensing small or large quantities of
cubed, cracked or crushed ice from a prefilled ice bin or the like
are known. Such devices as have heretofore been devised, however,
are deficient in many respects, principally in that they are
difficult, if not impossible, to disassemble for cleaning properly,
and in that they become easily jammed and therefore inoperative if
the size or shape of the ice fragments or cubes is not
substantially uniform, or if temperature conditions within the ice
bin results in so-called "bridging" into ice masses, and in that
they are gravity fed from comparatively high ice bins, resulting in
high center of gravity, and consequent poor adaptation to
portability.
It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to
provide an automatic cubed, cracked or crushed ice dispenser which
obviates the above-described deficiencies.
It is another important object of this invention to provide an ice
dispenser of the character described that is not only easy to
disassemble for cleaning, but wherein the parts and surface areas
coming into contact with the contained and dispensed ice during use
of the device are, for the most part, removable and smooth surfaced
for easy cleaning, sanitizing and sterilization where necessary.
This is especially important in hospitals and the like institutions
where special care must be taken to eliminate all possible sources
of bacterial infection.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an ice
dispenser of the character described which will be fully automatic
in dispensing predetermined portions of ice into a glass pitcher or
the like container without the necessity of touching the ice or the
machine by hand, thereby keeping the ice in as pure condition as
when supplied to the unit.
A more particular object of the invention is to provide an
automatic, portion-controllable ice dispenser of the character
described which is well suited either to portable or stationary
usage, and which comprises an insulated ice bin, ice-elevating
mechanism in the form of an auger having a bottom ice feeder disc
and an auger tube within which the auger turns for elevating the
ice to a dispensing spout, the auger tube having such a
cross-sectional configuration as to provide opposed, vertically
extending abutment wall portions serving to facilitate the lifting
of the ice in a uniform manner while at the same time preventing
ice packing or jamming in the auger assembly during operation.
Yet another object is to provide an ice dispenser of the above
nature including an agitator cooperative with the ice-elevating
auger for continuously feeding loosely piled ice to the auger
feeder disc for elevating and dispensing until substantially all of
the ice supplied to the ice bin has been dispensed.
Still another object is to provide an ice-dispensing device which
will be simple in construction, compact, readily portable,
attractive in appearance, economical in cost, and dependable,
efficient and durable in operation.
Other objects features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description when read with reference to
the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals denote the corresponding parts throughout the several
views:
FIG. 1 illustrates, in oblique view as seen from the front, an ice
dispenser embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice dispenser
taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows
and illustrated in an enlarged scale;
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3
of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line
4--4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the agitator and the agitator drive
unit, shown separately in oblique view;
FIG. 6 is a partial oblique view, as seen from the top, of the ice
dispenser, illustrating the power unit thereof tilted outwardly for
disassembly of the ice agitating and elevating mechanism;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG.
2 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating constructional
details of the auger ice lift assembly;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of portions of the auger ice lift
assembly and the associated drive mechanism;
FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 9--9
of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating
mechanical details of the auger ice lift assembly and its
associated drive and dispensing mechanism;
FIG. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line
10--10 of FIG. 9 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating
how the auger is drivingly interconnected with the drive
mechanism.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, numeral 10 in FIGS. 1, 2
and 3 designates an improved ice dispenser embodying the invention,
the same being comprised, generally, of a substantially rectangular
ice bin 11, a power unit 12 mounted at the upper end thereof and a
auger ice lift assembly 14 driven by the power unit 12 and
operative to elevate and dispense ice as is hereinafter described.
The ice dispenser 10 also comprises, generally, an agitator drive
unit 15 and an agitator 16 which, together, serve to transport
cubed, crushed or cracked ice to an ice feeder disc at the lower
end of the ice lift assembly auger to insure continuous feeding of
ice through the dispenser, when operated, as long as such ice is
supplied to the ice bin.
The ice bin 11 is substantially rectangular in shape, having a
bottom framework comprising opposed side angle iron framework
members 17 and 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) interjoined, as by welding,
with a front angle iron framework member 19 and a back angle iron
framework member 20. Secured against the underside of the bottom
framework and secured in transverse relation along the front and
back thereof are front and back wheel support plates 21 and 22,
respectively. Swivel caster wheels 23 secured one each to the four
ends of the support plates 21 and 22, together with push handle
means hereinafter described, render the ice dispenser fully
portable.
The ice bin 11 further comprises spaced, parallel outer side panel
members 24 and 25, attached to and extending upwardly of respective
side angle iron framework members 18 and 17 (see FIG. 3), and
respective parallel front and back panel members 26 and 27 attached
to and extending upwardly of respective front and back angle iron
framework members 19 and 20 (see FIG. 2). As illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 4, the outer panels 24, 25, 26 and 27 are secured together
along their corners by outer vertical corner trim members 28.
The ice bin 11 further comprises inner sidewall members 29 and 30
secured in spaced relation with respect to outer side panels 24 and
25, respectively, and inner front and inner rear wall members 31
and 32, respectively, secured in spaced relation with respect to
front and back panel members 26 and 27, respectively (see FIGS. 2,
3 and 4). The upper ends of the inner wall members 29, 30, 31 and
32 are inwardly offset, as indicated at 33 in FIGS. 2 and 3, to
accommodate the inner flange of a U-shaped, inverted, peripheral
trim member 34 welded or otherwise secured at the four corners to
the upper ends of the vertical corner trim members 28. As best
illustrated in FIG. 2, rivets 35 secure the upper end portions of
the inner wall members 29, 30, 31 and 32 to the inner flange of the
U-shaped, peripheral trim member 34. The spacing between the outer
panel members 24, 25, 26 and 27 and their respective inner wall
members 29, 30, 31 and 32 is filled with insulation, as indicated
at 36. A bottom peripheral bumper strip 37 is fixed around the
outside of the ice bin 11 at the lower end thereof as by screws 38
extending into tapped openings in the angle iron framework members
17, 18, 19 and 20. The ice bin 11 further comprises a bottom panel
39 resting upon the wheel support plates 21 and 22, and a false
bottom plate 40 disposed in spaced parallel relation thereabove,
said false bottom plate preferably being integrally formed, by
bending, with the inner sidewall members 29 and 30 (see FIG. 3).
The bottom plate 40 is fitted near the rear end thereof with a
drain fitting 41 extending through a drainage conduit 41a
downwardly and rearwardly to a drain valve 42 for draining melted
ice water. As partially illustrated in FIG. 2, a push-pull handle
43 is secured in spaced, parallel relation along the upper end of
the rear panel member 27 by end brackets 44 (only one shown), the
ends of said rodlike handle being fitted with bumper wheels 45.
The power unit 12 comprises a rectangular housing 46 having a
bottom plate 47. As is best illustrated in FIG. 6, the rectangular
bottom plate 47 has secured to the underside thereof, as by
welding, a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, angle iron bracket
members 48 and 49. A pivot rod 50, journaled between the sides of
the ice bin 11 at rear upper end portions thereof and extending
through the peripheral trim member 34, carries welded thereto, near
opposed end portions thereof, one arm each of substantially
right-angular bellcrank levers 51 and 52. The remaining arms of the
bellcrank levers 51 and 52 are journaled to end portions of the
angle iron bracket members 48, 49 as by bolts 53, 53. A rodlike
handle 54 is welded or otherwise secured at one end to the pivot
rod 50 in spaced relation with respect to the inside of the
bellcrank lever 51, said handle, when turned upwardly, serving to
turn the bellcrank levers 51 and 52 upwardly and forwardly, in
unison therewith, for disassembly of the ice dispenser as is
hereinafter more particularly described. Counteracting spring means
is provided to facilitate and smoothen the outward and inward
turning of the power unit 12 with respect to the pivot rod 50 upon
disassembly and assembly of the device. To this end, a torque rod
55 is provided, said torque rod extending at one end through an
opening provided near the inner end of the angle iron bracket
member 49 and passing transversely along the underside of the
rectangular bottom plate 47 to merge into a right-angular,
rearwardly extending portion 56 extending along the inside of the
angle iron bracket member 48 to terminate in a sidewardly outwardly
extending terminal hook portion 57 engaged in an opening provided
in the angle iron bracket member 48 near the rearwardly extending
end thereof. The other end of the torque rod 55 is integrally
formed with a rearwardly extending arm portion 58 merging into a
downwardly extending arm portion 59 terminating in an upwardly
extending terminal hook portion 60. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and
6, the arm portions 58 and 59 of the torque rod 55 extend through a
guide slot provided by a U-shaped bracket 61 affixed against the
inner sidewall member 30 of the ice bin 11 near the upper end
thereof and to the front, said bracket having journaled at its
upper end a guide wheel 62 along the underside of which the
rearwardly and downwardly extending arm portions 58, 59 of the
torque rod 55 ride during the opening and closing movements of
power unit 12 with respect to the ice bin 11 upon actuation of the
rod handle 54. It will be understood that the torque rod 55 will be
so prestressed with respect to the weight of the power unit 12 and
auger ice lift assembly 14 as to provide appropriate reactive
moment forces with respect to the pivot rod 50 to render such
opening and closing of the power unit with respect to the ice bin
substantially effortless.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8, the power unit 12 further
comprises an interior, upstanding support plate 63 having
right-angularly turned, marginal, vertical side portions 63a for
added rigidity. The lower end of the vertical support plate 63 is
integrally formed, as by bending outwardly thereof at the bottom
with a rectangular reinforcing plate 64 fixed against the upper
surface of the bottom plate 47 as by corner bolts 65. An auger tube
66 extends upwardly vertically through a substantially central
opening in the reinforcing plate 64 and is welded thereto along the
outside so as to be rigidly affixed thereto. As illustrated in FIG.
6, the circular opening in the rectangular bottom plate 47 provides
clearance for the passage therethrough of the auger tube 66. The
upper end of the auger tube 66 is secured in substantially rigid
relation with respect to the upstanding support plate 63 by means
of bolts 68 extending between said support plate and opposed,
outwardly extending lug plates 69, 69 welded to and extending
outwardly of opposed side portions of said auger tube and secured
in place by clamp nuts 70.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9, the upper end of the auger
tube 66 is cylindrical in shape and supports, in vertically spaced
relation therein, a pair of upper and lower bearings 71 and 72
journaling a drive pin 73. The drive pin 73, at a position
therealong between the bearings 71 and 72, carries a sprocket 74.
The lower end of the drive pin 73 extends downwardly through the
lower bearing 72 to terminate in a conical end portion 75. The
drive pin 73 further comprises a cross pin 76 projecting at each
end through a diametric opening just above the conical end portion
75 thereof, within which said pin is press fitted for retention in
place.
As is best illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the auger tube 66 is
deformed from circular or tubular cross-sectional configuration to
provide diametrically opposed, vertically extending, radially
directed sidewall offset portions 77, 78 extending from the lower
end of said auger tube to a position somewhat short of the upper
end thereof (see FIG. 9). As illustrated in FIG. 7, the vertical
sidewall portions 77, 78 merge into offset, opposed,
semicylindrical wall portions 79 and 80.
As is best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper end of the auger
tube 66 is provided at one side with a substantially rectangular
ice discharge opening 81, the lower edge of which has welded
thereto an outwardly and downwardly extending ice discharge ramp
82. Vertically extending brackets 83 and 84 welded to and extending
outwardly of the auger tube 66 along each side of the discharge
opening 81 pivotally journal at upper, outer end portions thereof,
a semicylindrical cover plate 85. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9,
the ice discharge ramp 82 and the vertical brackets 83 and 84
supporting the pivotal cover plate 85 extend through a rectangular
opening 86 in a vertical wallplate 87 which, together with a
vertical wallplate 88, provide a rectangular recess 89 in the front
of the rectangular power unit housing 46 at one side thereof. The
chamber 89 is provided at the lower end with a shallow drain
chamber 90 fitted with a perforate drain plate 91 to accommodate
spillage. A drainpipe 92 leading from the drain chamber 90 (see
FIGS. 2 and 4) conducts spillage water to the bottom of the ice bin
11 whereat it can drain off, together with melted ice water from
the bin, through the drain valve 42. A top lid or cover 93, cut off
at an angle over the ice dispenser chamber 89, encloses the upper
end of the rectangular power unit housing 46.
The auger ice lift assembly 14 further comprises a removable auger
94, which is preferably formed by twisting an elongated plate of
stainless steel. The upper end of the auger 94 has welded thereto a
circular top plate 95 having a concentric circular opening 96
provided with diametrically opposed, rectangular slots 97, 97. As
illustrated in FIG. 9, the upper end of the auger is also provided
with an opening 98 for the free-fitting reception of the conical
end portion 75 of the drive pin 73. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and
10, the auger 94 is removably assembled to the drive pin 73 so as
to be rotatively driven thereby by inserting it into the auger tube
66 in such a manner that the conical end 75 and cross pin 76 of
said drive pin fit through the circular opening 90 and opposed
slots 97 of the top plate 95. In such position, the conical end 75
of the drive pin 73 will be freely received within the opening 98
in the upper end of the auger and, upon giving the auger a slight
clockwise twist, the outer end portions of the cross pin 76 will be
brought into abutment with opposed sidewall portions of the upper
end of said auger for driving interconnection upon operation of the
device, as is hereinafter more particularly described.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, the lower end of the auger 94 has
concentrically welded or otherwise affixed thereto a circular auger
disc 99 integrally formed upon the upper surface of which is a pair
of diametrically opposed, upstanding, arcuate ribs 100, 101. The
underside of the auger disc 99 is provided with a central recess
102 and a pair of symmetrically arranged, diametrically opposed
rectangular recesses 103, 104, for the purpose hereinafter
appearing.
The agitator drive unit 15 (see FIG. 5), is preferably fabricated
of sheet stainless steel bent into shape to provide a rectangular
bottom wall portion 106, upwardly and outwardly extending sidewall
portions 107 and 108, an angularly upwardly and rearwardly
extending bottom wall portion 109, and upwardly and outwardly
extending sidewall portions 110, 111 extending from said bottom
wall portion 109. The bottom wall of the agitator drive unit 15 is
formed with a circular depression or recess 112 the underside of
which has affixed thereto a circular reinforcing plate 113. Secured
within a central opening in the recess 112 and reinforcing plate
113 is a bearing member 114 carrying a rotatively journaled,
circular bearing plate 115, (see also FIG. 2). The bearing plate
115 has integrally formed therewith an upwardly extending,
centrally located indexing pin 116 and a pair of diametrically
opposed index lugs 117 and 118, for the purpose hereinafter
appearing. Unitary with the indexing pin 116 and arranged at the
underside of the reinforcing plate 113 is a crank member 119. A
connector arm 120 in the form of a bent rod is pivotally journaled
at one end to the crank 119, and is formed at its other end with a
turned-up outer end portion 121 extending through an elongate slot
122 provided in the bottom wall portion 109 of the agitator drive
15. The underside of the bottom wall portion 109 along each side of
the slot 122 is fitted with spaced parallel angle brackets 123 and
124 defining therebetween space for passage of the outer end
portion 121 of the connector rod 120. The inner end of the outer
end portion 121 is fitted with a welded-in-place collar 125 which
bears and slides against outer edge portions of the angle brackets
123 and 124 upon reciprocating motion of connector arm 120, as is
hereinafter described. A washer 126 is placed over the outwardly
projecting end of the outer end portion 121 to seat upon the bottom
wall portion 109 of the agitator drive unit 15. The rear end of the
bottom wall portion 109 is provided with an upwardly extending lift
hook 127 facilitating manual removal of the agitator drive unit 15
upon disassembly. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the
agitator drive unit 15 is supported in assembled relation within
the ice bin 11 by means of a yoke bracket 128 secured against the
inner front wall member 31 of said ice bin as by rivets 129, and an
angle bracket 105 welded or otherwise affixed in horizontal
disposition against the inner rear wall member 32 of said ice bin
(see FIG. 2). As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the yoke bracket is
formed with an arcuate cutout 130 which accommodates the circular
depression 112 in the support of the bottom wall portion 106 of the
agitator drive unit 15. The inner front wall member 31 of the ice
bin 11 also has secured to it, at a central position in spaced
relation above the yoke bracket 128, an abutment bracket 131 which
serves to limit the inward swinging motion of the auger ice lift
assembly 14 at a vertically extending position upon assembly of the
device, as is hereinbelow more particularly described.
The agitator 16 is of such complemental shape as to fit slidingly
upon the agitator drive unit 15 and is also of bent metal plate
construction, comprising a substantially rectangular bottom wall
portion 132, opposed substantially rectangular mutually divergent
sidewall portion 133 and 134 and substantially rectangular,
forwardly extending sidewall portions 135 and 136. The bottom wall
132 of the agitator 16 has fixed thereto near the front edge and
transversely centrally located, an upstanding, flat divider bar or
post 137 buttressed by an angularly rearwardly extending support
member 138. Affixed to the support member 138 is a resilient lock
pin 139. The bottom wall 132 is further provided with a circular
opening 140 for the passage therethrough of the upwardly extending
end of the turned-up outer end portion 121 of the connector arm 120
upon assembly of the agitator 16 in seating engagement upon the
agitator drive unit 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The outwardly
projecting end of the end portion 121 is provided with a transverse
bore 141 for the reception of an angularly bent outer end portion
of the lock pin 139, which serves to maintain the agitator member
16 in assembled relation with respect to the agitator drive unit
15.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, the lower end of the auger tube 66
has welded or otherwise affixed thereto a pair of diametrically
opposed abutment wings 142, 143, the outer ends of which, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, are substantially coextensive with the
diametrical extent of the auger disc 99.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, an electric drive motor 144 is affixed
against the back of the upstanding support plate 63 of the power
unit 12 as by bolts 145. The drive shaft 146 of the electric motor
144 extends upwardly through a bearing support plate 147 affixed to
and extending horizontally from the upper end of the support plate
63 and carries at its outer end a sprocket 148. The drive chain 149
interconnects the drive sprocket 148 with the driven sprocket 74 of
the auger drive pin 73, an opening 149a (see FIG. 9) being provided
in the upper end of the auger tube 66 for passage of said drive
chain.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, an arcuate abutment plate 150 is
arranged below the ice discharge ramp cover plate 85 within the
open rectangular chamber 89 at the front of the device. The
abutment plate 150 is welded or otherwise affixed at the inside
against the outer end of an angular lever arm 151 having a
vertically downwardly extending portion journaled in a bracket 152
fixed to and extending outwardly of the upstanding support plate
63. The angular lever arm 151 is formed with a horizontal arm
portion 153 operative to actuate a normally open electric switch
154, secured to said bracket 152 by pushing in upon the
spring-pressed actuating plunger 155 of said switch. Electrical
circuitry, not herein described, including the motor 144, the
normally open switch 154 and an electric timer 156 secured at the
upper end of the upstanding support plate 63, controls the
energization of the drive motor 144 for a predetermined and
adjustable interval of time sufficient to provide the amount of ice
required each time the abutment plate 150 is pushed inwardly by the
glass, pitcher or other container moved under the ice discharge
ramp cover plate 85. The electrical circuitry also includes an
override switch 157 having an actuating plunger extending outwardly
through an opening in the vertical wallplate 87 of the rectangular
chamber 89 for manual actuation permitting control of ice
dispensing in instances when greater amounts of ice are required
than those portions for which the device has been preset by the use
of the timer 156. Inasmuch as the above-described electrical
control circuitry is well known in the art, further description is
not deemed necessary.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device is provided with a removable
cover 158 having a handle 159, which cover can readily be removed
for assembly and disassembly of the mechanism and for filling the
ice bin with cubed, crushed or cracked ice when required.
As hereinabove described, disassembly of the ice dispenser
mechanism is accomplished by first pulling up upon the handle 54 to
elevate the auger ice lift assembly 14. As above described, the
torque rod 55 operates to maintain the power unit and auger ice
lift assembly in a somewhat inwardly inclined position, as
illustrated in FIG. 6. Further pushing upon the handle 54 in the
outer or forward position will move the auger ice lift assembly 14
completely outwardly of the ice bin 11, to a limit position
determined by the hook portion 60 of the torque rod 55, whereat the
auger disc 99 can be grasped and turned counterclockwise to
disengage the auger 94 from the drive pin 73, to remove the auger
assemblage from the interior of the auger tube 66. The agitator 16
and agitator drive unit 15 can then readily be disassembled by
disengagement of the resilient lock pin 139 and withdrawal in
reverse order from that described in their assemblage.
It will be noted that, due to the action of the bellcrank levers 51
and 52 pivotally connecting the power unit 12 with the ice bin 11,
the auger ice lift assembly 14 will have a substantial vertical
downward component of movement just prior to seating in place of
the power unit 12 upon the ice bin 11 in assembled relation,
enabling the auger disc 99 to move down into interengagement with
the indexing pin 116 and index lugs 117 and 118 of the bearing
plate 115 associated with the crank 119. In this connection, it is
to be noted that the abutment bracket 131 further guides the auger
ice lift assembly 14 in its vertical downward movement upon
assembly of the mechanism.
In operation it will be noted that the auger disc 99, rotatively
driven at its upper end as hereinabove described, is drivingly
interconnected at its lower end through the auger disc 99 to the
crank 119 associated with the agitator drive unit 15. The crank
119, in turn, through connector arm 120, the outer end portion 121
of which passes upwardly through the circular opening 140 in the
bottom wall 132 of the agitator 16, serves to reciprocably move
said agitator upon operation of the auger 94. The back-and-forth
movement of the agitator 16 not only facilitates gravitational
movement of the ice in the direction of the auger disc 99 but, by
virtue of the upstanding divider post member 137, also serves to
engage choppingly with the ice mass to minimize the possibility of
so-called "bridging" of ice fragments under adverse temperature and
pressure conditions within the ice bin. Referring to FIG. 2, it
will be noted that the lower end of the auger tube 66 extends
somewhat short of the upper surface of the auger disc 99 to provide
an entrance for the passage of the ice upwardly through said tube.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the opposed spiral ribs 100 and 101 in
the auger disc 99, upon turning of the auger in the clockwise
direction as indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 4 and 7, serve to
propel the ice inwardly for engagement by the auger 94, being
assisted by the relatively fixed abutment wings 142 and 143. In
this connection, it will be noted, with reference to FIG. 2, that
the abutment wings 142 and 143 extend somewhat short of the upper
surface of the auger disc 99 to permit full cooperative operation
of the auger disc ribs 100 and 101 in moving the ice into position
for elevation by the rotating auger 94. In its lifting movement
within the auger tube 66, peripheral portions of the ice will come
into abutting engagement with the opposed, interior, vertically
extending sidewall portions 77, 78 of said auger tube, which
promote substantially vertical sliding lifting of a substantial
portion of the ice being elevated to the discharge ramp, while at
the same time minimizing any tendency of the ice to jam, which
would otherwise result in nonuniform dispensing.
* * * * *