Patent ID: 8387408
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: F25C,F25D,G07F

Abstract:
1. An ice dispensing apparatus, comprising: a case provided with an ice inlet and an ice outlet; a conveying unit that is provided on a first side of the case to convey and discharge ice cubes through the ice outlet; an ice-crushing unit that is provided on a second side of the case to crush the ice cubes into ice pieces and discharge the crushed ice pieces through the ice outlet, the ice-crushing unit including a rotational blade that is rotatably coupled to a shaft; and a guide member disposed at the second side of the case and configured to guide the ice cubes in different directions in accordance with an ice mode, the guide member having a slot and being positioned so that at least a portion of the rotational blade of the ice-crushing unit passes by the guide member through the slot, wherein the rotational blade is rotated in a first direction to push the ice cubes toward the first side of the case when the ice dispensing apparatus is in an ice cube dispensing mode of operation, and wherein the rotational blade is rotated in a second direction to push the ice cubes toward the second side of the case when the ice dispensing apparatus is in a crushed ice dispensing mode of operation.