Imi Cornelius, Inc.

The Coca-cola Company

Kenneth J Emody

Dusan N Ivancevic

Peter S Tinucci

Michael S Meyer

Ted M Jablonski

Gary S Levine

Theresa M Jackson

Herman H Martin

David A Miller

An ice dispensing machine includes a housing defining an ice retaining bin. The bin includes an auger/dispensing wheel releasably secured to a shaft of a motor, the shaft extending through one sidewall of the ice bin. A motor mounting panel is secured to the opposite side of the sidewall and includes a plurality of keyway slots having a key receiving hole on one end and a narrower slot portion. The motor includes a similar plurality of keys extending therefrom. A further motor retaining plate is secured to the sidewall and includes two holes. A U-shaped motor retaining rod is threaded on one end and unthreaded on the other. In operation, the plurality of motor keys are aligned with the keyways and inserted into the hole ends thereof, after which the motor is rotated so that the keys are locked and retained in the narrower slot portions. The U-shaped rod is mounted around the cylindrical exterior of the motor housing whereby the two ends thereof are inserted into and through the corresponding two holes of the second motor mounting bracket. A wing nut is secured to the threaded end of the U-shaped rod and tightened thereby pulling the motor against the second motor mount bracket and securing it there to. The non threaded end is of sufficient length to simply extend through its corresponding hole so as to prevent any rotation of the U-shaped bracket.

Quick release motor mount

The present invention comprises a below countertop dispenser that provides for reliable less destructive dispensing of ice, and that can fully remove the ice from the storage bin thereof. The invention herein utilizes a two part mechanism for lifting ice from the storage bin to a dispense chute positioned above the countertop. A disk type agitator/lift mechanism is first used to lift the ice to an ice channel communicating with the bottom of an auger housing. The bottom of the auger housing is positioned above the bottom most point of the ice storage bin. An auger is positioned vertically in the auger housing and provides for lifting ice from the bottom of the auger housing to the dispense chute.

Low profile ice dispenser

Ice-beverage dispenser

Growing community of inventors

Carol Stream, IL, United States of America

Kenneth J Emody