Abstract: An ice making and crushing machine includes upright freezing plates for producing sheets of ice and and a pair of oppositely rotating ice breaking members below the plates for receiving the ice upon release by defrosting. The breaking members comprise sets of equally spaced disks each having equally spaced radial arms longitudinally aligned on the members. When rotating the disks form longitudinal pockets which receive and separate the ice in portions and crush it in successive batches. Substantially the entire area of the freezing plates is exposed to water on one side and refrigerant on the other for speeding the production of ice and the refrigerant circulating system affords equal cooling and the forming of ice of the same thickness on both plates.

Abstract: Apparatus for the storage of ice which includes a housing for storing pieces of ice. The housing is shaped in the form of a frustum, is interiorly thermally insulated at least on the sidewall and has a top feeding opening and a bottom outlet opening. The scratching-off device is positioned adjacent the bottom opening. The ice is scratched off and dropped continually downwardly toward a delivery station positioned below the scratching-off device and communicating with the bottom opening, where the pieces of ice are removed. The apparatus may also include a measuring device positioned adjacent the delivery station, with which a definite amount of ice delivered from the delivery station is measured out. Thus it is possible to remove pieces of ice stored smoothly, continually and efficiently.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering ice from an ice body maker to an ice delivery area selectively in the form of ice bodies or as crushed ice. The ice crusher is mounted in a housing and includes first and second crusher arms mounted to a rotatable shaft therein. A stop is provided for preventing rotation of the second crusher arm while permitting the first crusher arm to continue rotation with the shaft. The relative movement between the crusher arms effects a crushing of the ice bodies so as to permit the ice to then be delivered to the delivery area in the form of crushed ice. When the stop is positioned so as to permit rotation of both the first and second crusher arms with the shaft, the ice bodies are delivered intact thereby to the delivery area. The stop is arranged to prevent rotation of the second crusher arm in either direction when disposed to prevent movement of the second crusher arm with the shaft.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing system for ice in flake or particle form is disclosed utilizing a storage bin with driven screw augers extending outwardly over and above an ice storage space, the discharge end of the screw augers being pivotally mounted at the discharge end thereof with the other end of the augers being flexibly suspended for arcuate movement about the pivoted end to a position above the stored ice and being lowered into contact with the stored ice for auger dispensing, the auger being lowered as ice is discharged; the auger dispenser is oscillatable lengthwise during dispensing drive and is equipped with ice cutting blades on the outer edges of the screw flights and at the free end of such flights so as to ensure cutting a path through the particle ice as the conveyor device descends through the stored ice for dispensing purposes.

Abstract: A refillable ice dispensing apparatus for automatically vending ice in cracked, chipped or cubed shapes. Use of an oblong shaped storage bin with drainage means and having a specially designed agitation system and ice jogging system facilitates even and relatively complete circulation of the stored ice to a release aperture. A solenoid controlled dispensing gate cooperates with the agitation system to dispense the stored ice, and utilizes lost motion linkage connections with the gate in order to create momentum before lifting of the gate is commenced.

Abstract: A foodstuff slicer which is particularly useful for shaving ice, frozen fruits and the like is disclosed. The foodstuff slicer is provided with a rotor composed of a downwardly diverging hood, a plurality of carrier-arms and a boss connected to a vertical driving shaft. The carrier-arms extend radially and upwardly in spaced relation with a wall of a conical case which diverges upwardly. A cutting blade is attached to a upper portion of the conical case. Centrifugal forces acting on lumps of foodstuff become nearly maximum at the position of the cutting blade to slice the foodstuff steadily.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for filling a plurality of drinking containers positioned in predetermined locations on a tray dispenses ice, water, or both. The apparatus has a storage hopper for containing a supply of ice, the hopper having a discharge opening at the bottom which communicates with a gate for controlling the flow of ice from the discharge opening. A plurality of generally upright chutes is positioned below the gate and extends from the gate to a receiving chamber near the base of the apparatus. The tray and drinking containers are positioned in the chamber and receive ice from the chutes, the outlet of each chute being positioned over one of the drinking containers. Ice flow from the hopper to the chutes is selectively arrested by the gate which includes a plurality of rigid, elongated members, all of which are disposed in side-by-side relationship with their longitudinal axes being parallel.