Patent ID: 7426812
Filing Date: 2008-09-23
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: making ice; channeling the ice into a hopper; placing a drawer in a first position relative to the hopper, the drawer defining a region defining a volume; disposing a first volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper, the first volume of ice being generally equal to the volume defined by the region; after disposing the first volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper, moving a door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a first configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally prevented; after moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the first configuration, disposing the first volume of ice in a bag comprising a mouth, comprising: placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper after disposing the first volume of ice in the bag; after placing the drawer back into the first position relative to the hopper, moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in a second configuration in which disposal of ice into the drawer from the hopper is generally permitted; disposing a second volume of ice into the region defined by the drawer from the hopper in response to moving the door relative to the hopper and the drawer to place the door in the second configuration, the second volume of ice being generally equal to the first volume of ice; filling the bag with ice, comprising disposing the first volume of ice in the bag; sealing the bag after filling the bag with ice; and storing the bag filled with ice in a freezer; wherein, when the drawer is in the first position and the door is in the first configuration, the door is disposed between at least a portion of the drawer and at least a portion of the hopper.