Patent ID: 9527610
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: B65B

Claim Text:
1. An ice bagging assembly comprising: an ice bag merchandiser in mechanical cooperation with an ice bagging apparatus, the ice bag merchandiser configured to receive a plurality of ice bags from the ice bagging apparatus and maintain the ice within the ice bags in a frozen state; a passageway connecting an interior space of the ice bagging apparatus with an interior space of the ice bag merchandiser, the passageway permitting passage of each of the plurality of ice bags; and an ice bag distributor proximate the passageway and comprising at least two doors, the ice bag distributor automatically positionable between a first position and a second position; wherein the at least two doors are selectively positionable to prevent a first ice bag of the plurality of ice bags from dropping into the ice bag merchandiser and allow the first ice bag to drop therebetween and into a first region of the ice bag merchandiser when the ice bag distributor is in a first position; and wherein the at least two doors are selectively positionable to prevent a second ice bag of the plurality of ice bags from dropping into the ice bag merchandiser and allow the second ice bag to drop therebetween and into a second region of the ice bag merchandiser when the ice bag distributor is in a second position.