Abstract: An auger type ice maker in which the auger is supported by a thrust bearing carried by the extruding head at the top of the evaporator and in which the extruding head itself is entirely symmetrical around the axis of rotation of the auger and in which means is provided for preventing rotation of the ice in the plenum formed by the extruding head above the upper end of the auger. The auger is not required to compress the ice against any plate or other means which closes the upper end of an extruding passage as ice is being delivered to lower end thereof. The extruding head is formed with radially outwardly extending lugs received in slots in the upper surface of a flange at the top of the evaporator housing which lugs also are received in slots formed in a flange at the bottom of the storage housing so as to position the housing circumferentially above the axis of rotation of the auger.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for identifying certain disabling abnormal conditions in an ice maker. The system includes a display panel having a pair of indicator lights and a push button switch, which when used together with a legend enables the operator to determine which particular abnormal condition needs correction.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser in which a sensor provides an output corresponding to the level of the beverage in a storage reservoir from which the beverage is dispensed. In response to user actuation a dispensing valve is enabled for such a time interval, determined in accordance with the output of the sensor, as to compensate for variations in flow rate due to variations in the beverage level in the reservoir. The level sensor output is also used to control a level-indicating display and to disable the reservoir heater when the reservoir is empty. Preferably the sensor is a strain gauge adhered to the surface of a relatively thin resilient beam which supports a portion of the reservoir.

Abstract: A plate type ice maker for forming chunks of hard ice in which a member provided with an ice-forming passage having a cutting edge at one end thereof is moved over a plane freezing surface to cause ice crystals scraped from the freezing surface by the cutting edge to be forced into the forming passage in which they are subjected to compressive forces sufficient to form a rod of hard ice which emerges from the other end of the passage and which engages a breaker surface which fractures the rod to form a hard piece of ice.