Abstract: An improved evaporator/ice forming assembly for an ice machine is disclosed. The assembly comprises evaporator tubing sections having one or more integrally formed fin elements; evaporator system connectors adapted for connecting the tubing sections together to form a sealed evaporator section of a refrigeration system; and divider elements adapted to fit together with the one or more fin elements to form a plurality of ice formation pockets. Processes for forming the assembly, as well as an ice machine incorporating the assembly, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ice cube making machine having an inclined ice forming mold over which water is circulated from an underlying sump. The ice forming mold includes an endless, inclined conveyor for delivering the formed ice upwardly to an adjacent, laterally spaced ice storage bin.

Abstract: An ice cube making machine having a vertically oriented ice forming mold over which water is circulated from an underlying sump. The ice forming mold includes an endless conveyor for delivering the formed ice upwardly to a chute which communicates with an adjacent, laterally spaced ice storage bin.

Abstract: An ice making system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, and having freeze and harvest cycles. During the harvest cycle, vaporous refrigerant is circulated from the compressor to the evaporator through a discharge line, and is thereafter returned to the compressor through a supply line. A predetermined amount of refrigerant is condensed in a reservoir during the freeze cycle and expelled therefrom during the harvest cycle to augment the amount of refrigerant circulating in the system.

Abstract: An ice making system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, and having freeze and harvest cycles. During the harvest cycle, vaporous refrigerant is circulated from the compressor to the evaporator through a discharge line, and is thereafter returned to the compressor through a supply line. A predetermined amount of refrigerant is condensed in a reservoir during the freeze cycle and expelled therefrom during the harvest cycle to augment the amount of refrigerant circulating in the system.

Abstract: A pump assembly for use in circulating water from a reservoir to an ice forming mold in an ice making machine, the pump assembly comprising an unvented, unit bearing electric motor having a downwardly extending drive shaft, a pump having a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a fan secured to the drive shaft between the motor and the pump, a support structure interconnecting the pump and the motor, said support structure including a cylindrical upper portion encircling the fan and having an upper edge which is spaced from the bottom of the motor to define an annular slot, said interconnecting structure also including a lower portion with openings near the surface of the water in the reservoir, and a substantially cylindrical collar encircling the motor which defines a substantially axial extension of the annular slot, through which cool air from the surface of the reservoir is directed to the motor to prevent the motor from overheating.

Abstract: An ice cube making machine having a vertical, open-faced freezing mold over which water is circulated from an underlying trough to build up ice. When the mold is full, the pump circulating the water is stopped and the ice is harvested. Harvesting is facilitated by a plunger that is biased to push ice from the mold. Water pressure from the pump holds the plunger against its bias until the pressure is released for the harvest cycle. The mold open face is covered by a water curtain having a lower lip underlying the mold open face so that the underlying trough need not extend substantially out from the mold, thereby permitting similar such units to be vertically stacked.

Abstract: A vertical ice cube mold chilled by a refrigeration system has a water stream pumped into its open vertical face to build up ice cubes in the mold. A probe hangs over the open mold face at an adjustable spacing. When the mold fills with ice and the water stream contacts the probe, an electrical circuit is completed to cause a control to stop the water pump and heat the mold, thus harvesting the ice cubes. A timer restarts the icemaking cycle in case ice is not delivered for some reason. Casual water contact with the probe is prevented from tripping the control through the use of a simple integrator device.

Abstract: An ice cube making apparatus and method characterized by minimum excess meltage of the ice and minimum energy usage is disclosed. According to the apparatus a plurality of generally flat metalic tubes and interconnecting return bends form a serpentine evaporator path. A jacket member encloses the evaporator member to provide ice cube forming sites on both sides thereof. The jacket has internal passageways and external sites cooled by the evaporator member for forming ice cubes and includes a plurality of intersecting ridge portions whose inner surfaces form portions of the internal passageways and whose outer surfaces form the side walls for the sites for forming the ice cubes. The jacket may be made of flexible plastic material so that the filling of the jacket with water during a harvest mode causes flexing thereof to help to dislodge the ice cubes. Alternatively, the jacket is constructed of a pair of rigid plastic members which may be sandwiched together with the evaporator member inside.

Abstract: An ice dispensing machine comprising a rotatable ice storage bin adapted to have ice from a suitable source thereof deposited therein; an ice shearing blade located below the bin and adapted to shear off ice located within the bin such that said ice is deposited in an ice discharge area; an ice discharge assembly located within the area and including a rotatable member having a plurality of outwardly projecting ice flipper elements operable to cause ice within the discharge area to move toward and into an ice discharge spout, and a control system for selectively operating the bin and the discharge assembly in response to actuation of a control lever which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable ice receiving receptacle, such as a glass or the like, with the control system including cam operated device for selectively positioning the flipper elements at the termination of each of the vend cycles such that one of the flipper elements is covering the inlet end of the discharge spout to prevent any melt water from

Abstract: A diverter valve assembly for use in an ice distribution system having an ice source and first and second ice delivery stations, the valve assembly comprising a valve body having an inlet section communicable with the ice source, and first and second outlet sections communicable with the first and second delivery stations, respectively; the valve assembly including a valve body having a central valve chamber communicable with the inlet and outlet sections and having a rotatable valve element disposed therein; an electrically energized motor for selectively rotating the valve element whereby to selectively communicate ice being supplied from the ice source to selected of the ice delivery stations, and a control system for use with the valve assembly, whereby to assure against actuation of the valve element during the delivery of ice to the valve assembly.

Abstract: The ice making and vending machine of the present invention will be seen to minimize to the extreme any ice bridging or fusing within the ice storage bin by virtue of the unique design and relationship of the bin rotor to the configuration of the bin. Additionally, the ice making and vending machine of the present invention will be seen to be extremely positive in operation in assuring that ice cubes are not delivered to the dispensing cavity of the machine housing except during such time as the vend switch is actuated, with the brake arrangement associated with the drive motor functioning to positively position the rotor at the termination of each vend cycle. It will be noted that the brake mechanism will function in two directions so as to not only prevent forward rotation of the rotor at the termination of a vend cycle but will also prevent rearward rotation as might occur when the rotor is subjected to certain loading conditions due to the quantity and orientation of the cubes within the bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving flaked or particulate ice from an associated ice making machine and adapted to selectively dispense the ice into a glass or similar receptacle, the apparatus including a rotatable ice storage bin, means defining a discharge opening below the storage bin and communicable with a discharge spout, means for causing rotation of the bin and for communicating ice therefrom through the discharge opening and into the receptacle, and means for sensing the quantity of ice in the bin and for effecting operation of the ice making machine when the volume of ice within the storage bin drops below some preselected magnitude.