Patent ID: 8336741
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: F25C

Abstract:
1. An ice dispenser comprising: a) an ice storage bin with a drive shaft aperture and an ice dispensing aperture; b) an ice dispensing chute connected to the storage bin in proximity to the ice dispensing aperture; c) a paddlewheel inside the storage bin; and d) a drive mechanism, including a solid drive shaft passing through the drive shaft aperture, for rotation of the paddlewheel, said paddlewheel not directly in contact with said drive shaft; e) the drive shaft being slidably connected to the paddlewheel without any fastening device in such a fashion that the paddlewheel is prevented from disengaging from the drive shaft during normal operation of the ice dispensing apparatus, but the drive shaft can be disengaged from the paddlewheel in order to be able to remove the drive mechanism from the ice dispenser without accessing the ice storage bin, wherein the paddlewheel and ice storage bin have an interconnection at the drive shaft aperture that keeps the paddlewheel aligned with the drive shaft aperture even when the drive shaft is not present, wherein the paddlewheel and ice storage bin have a further interconnection provided by an extension on the paddlewheel that fits within a recess of a wall of the ice storage bin and wherein the paddlewheel comprises a coupler that attaches to the drive shaft, the coupler being molded into the paddlewheel, and the extension is provided by a collar on the coupler.