Abstract: A bagger for an ice vending machine provides improved design, operation, and maintenance characteristics. An ice vending machine includes a merchandiser having a door providing access into an interior, an ice maker with a chute, and an ice bagger mounted to the merchandiser in communication with the ice maker. The ice bagger includes a frame having opposed, unitary, first and second frame elements, a spool of bags pivoted to a front of the frame on a swingarm, a cutting element mounted to the frame for reciprocal movement, and a tensioning assembly carried on the frame to provide tension to bags unrolled from the spool.