Imi Cornelius, Inc.

Michael A Zizas

Thaddeus M Jablonski

Kyle B Elsom

Daniel C Leaver

Donald E Wiley, Jr

An ice/beverage dispenser is characterized by an ice/beverage dispensing machine having an integral ice making capacity. An icemaker of the dispenser and the ice and beverage dispensing portion share an evaporator that that is utilized both for chilling beverage water for dispensing and for making ice. The evaporator is efficiently utilized in that one side of it is used for making ice and both sides of it are used for chilling water. The present invention uses a processor based control circuit that operates the refrigeration system between ice-making and water chilling modes in such manner as to ensure that cold beverages will always be served. The ice/beverage dispenser also includes a system for quickly combining and separating the ice making and beverage dispensing water supply, water drain and electrical functions.

Combined ice and beverage dispenser and icemaker

A machine mounting adapter accommodates mounting of a variety of differently dimensioned machines on top of a standard sized base machine, and in particular enables any one of a number of differently sized ice machines to be mounted on top of a given ice dispenser. The adapter includes both a specially configured cover that replaces a standard cover normally found on the ice dispenser and a pair of rigid bars that together with the specially configured cover are supported on a top perimeter edge defined around an open upper end of an ice retaining bin of the ice dispenser. An ice machine mounts on top of the cover with an ice drop hole in the cover providing access for ice made by the ice machine to enter the bin. The pair of rigid bars are adapted to be positioned in selected and adjustably spaced relationships, in one embodiment on the cover and in another embodiment on the perimeter edge of the ice retaining bin, such that the bars are located generally beneath and along front and rear ends of any particular ice machine mounted on the cover in order to provide secure support for the ice machine on top of the ice dispenser. By virtue of the bars being adjustable in their spacing, the machine mounting adapter can accommodate mounting of various size ice machines on an ice dispenser of given size.

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Bloomingdale, IL, United States of America

Michael A Zizas