The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 05, 1980
Filed:
Jul. 26, 1978
Albert L Schafer, Chicago, IL (US);
Remcor Products Company, Franklin Park, IL (US);
Abstract
An ice handling apparatus effectively handles crushed, cracked, flaked or cubed ice without agglomeration or congealing of the ice. The apparatus has a hopper for holding a mass of small particles of ice and an agitator in the hopper, and in one embodiment the hopper has level or inclined shelves extending from its side walls for supporting the ice and decreasing the compressive pressures to which the mass of ice is subjected, and for cooperating with the agitator to keep the ice particles in discrete, free flowing form. The hopper has an opening spaced above a lowermost end thereof through which ice may be dispensed, and in accordance with another embodiment of the invention a ramp extends from the bottom of the hopper to the opening to smoothly carry ice to the opening and facilitate dispensing of ice from the hopper. In combination with the shelves, the ramp provides for significantly improved dispensing of discrete, free flowing particles of ice.