Abstract:
An automatic ice and beverage dispensing machine having an ice dispensing chute assembly which is rotatable. As a rotating chute rotates rearward, a lifting motion first moves a locking device which locks a door in place and then elevates the door so that ice can freely flow from an ice storage bin. A switch is contacted which initiates the flow of ice from the ice storage bin. Releasing the rotating chute causes it to rotate (due to gravity) back to its initial, neutral position, disengaging the switch and stopping the flow of ice from the ice storage bin, reversing the lifting action on the door and the locking device, closing the door and locking the door in place to prevent further flow of ice from the ice storage bin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for dispensing ice and beverages. More particularly, the present invention relates to a unique construction for an ice dispensing chute assembly for use with the apparatus for dispensing ice and beverages. 
     2. Discussion 
     Counter top type automatic ice and beverage dispensing machines are commonplace. These ice and beverage dispensing machines are found in food and drink service establishments, hotels, motels, sports arenas and various other places where large quantities of ice and beverages are needed on a continuous basis. Some of these machines utilize flaked ice while others utilize ice shaped in a variety of configurations which are generally referred to as cubes. The present invention relates to an ice and beverage dispensing machine that utilizes ice which is both flaked or shaped in one of these various configurations of cubes. 
     Available counter top space is an important consideration in small convenience stores, cafeterias, concession stands, fast food restaurants and other such similar 0 establishments. Accordingly, as a result of a limited amount of counter top space, certain ice and beverage dispenser size and dimensional requirements are set based on practical limitations such as everyday operation and routine maintenance. Combined ice and chilled beverage dispensers are desirable because they are capable of increasing efficiency by eliminating the need for two separate machines thereby making more counter space available. 
     Counter top type automatic ice and beverage dispensing machines generally include an insulated sanitary ice storage bin, a drive train system, including a rotor, paddle wheel or auger, for delivering the ice, a door that opens to permit the flow of ice and closes to stop the flow of ice when a user has received the quantity of ice that he/she expects, and a dispensing chute to direct the flow of ice into the user&#39;s container. Additionally, an agitation system is provided to agitate the stored ice to prevent fusion which occurs over time when pieces of ice are in contact with each other. 
     A universal and long standing problem associated with ice and beverage dispensing machines is excessive ice spillage due to ice run over. This problem is recognized and known by anyone who has added ice to containers through the use of an automatic ice and beverage dispensing machine. 
     Normally, when adding ice to a container before filling the container with a beverage, the container or the user himself/herself pushes against a lever, plate or button which starts the dispensing process and the flow of ice. Accordingly, ice travels from the ice storage bin into an ice dispensing chute, falling into the container placed directly below the ice dispensing chute. When the desired amount of ice is obtained, the container or user disengages the lever, plate or button. A problem occurs as ice often continues to fall from the dispensing chute as the container is pulled away, dropping ice onto the sink beneath the chute or, worse, the floor. This causes more ice than is desired to flow into the container, wasting ice and causing potential slipping hazards if the excess ice falls on the floor. Preventing the problem requires the user to be particularly adept at withdrawing the container to release the lever, plate or button before the desired amount of ice falls into the container while continuing to hold the container under the dispensing chute until the ice stops falling. These problems exist in the filling of all such containers from cups to ice buckets to bags. 
     In order to overcome the problems associated with excessive ice spillage due to ice run over, various designs of ice dispensing door assemblies and ice dispensing chute assemblies have been developed. The continued development of these types of ice and beverage dispensing machines has been directed to designs which simplify the manufacturing process and the assembly of the ice dispensing door assemblies and the ice dispensing chute assemblies while keeping costs at a minimum and performance of the ice dispensing door assemblies and the ice dispensing chute assemblies at a maximum. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principle object of the present invention is to provide a combined ice and beverage dispensing apparatus that prevents excessive ice spillage due to ice run over. 
     A related object of the present invention is to provide an ice dispensing chute assembly which stops the flow of ice from the ice storage bin and shortly thereafter closes the door preventing further ice particles from exiting the ice dispensing chute. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide an ice dispensing chute assembly which locks its door in place preventing the flow of ice from the ice dispensing chute during operation of the agitation system. 
     The present invention provides an ice dispensing chute assembly including a rotating chute which is pivotally attached to a pair of brackets. The pair of brackets are mounted to an outer surface of an ice storage bin. Also pivotally attached to the pair of brackets is a door assembly. A switch is mounted to an inside surface of one of the brackets. When activated, the switch initiates the process by which ice from the ice storage bin is dispensed through the ice dispensing chute assembly. 
     By rotating the ice dispensing chute, either by pushing on a lower push lever with a cup or container, or by pushing on an elevated surface resembling a push button, the ice dispensing chute is rotated rearward towards the ice storage bin. As the ice dispensing chute rotates rearward towards the ice storage bin, it also has a lifting motion which first moves the locking device which locks the door in place and then elevates the door so that ice can freely flow from the ice storage bin. When a user has received the desired volume of ice, removal of pressure from the ice dispensing chute allows it to rotate (due to gravity) back to its neutral position. As the ice dispensing chute returns to its neutral position, it reverses the lifting action on the door and locking mechanism, and they both return back to a position which prevents the further flow of ice from the ice storage bin. 
     Other advantages, benefits and objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the subsequent detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automatic ice and beverage dispensing machine incorporating the unique ice dispensing chute assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the ice dispensing chute assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ice dispensing chute assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the ice dispensing chute assembly shown in FIG. 1 in an initial, neutral, closed position; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the ice dispensing chute assembly shown in FIG. 1 in an intermediate position; and 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the ice dispensing chute assembly shown in FIG. 1 in a fully extended, open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 an automatic ice and beverage dispensing machine incorporating the unique ice dispensing chute assembly in accordance with the present invention which is designated generally by reference numeral  10 . The automatic ice and beverage dispensing machine  10  includes an ice storage bin  12 , several beverage dispensing valves  14 , an ice dispensing chute assembly  16  and a drain sink  18 . The combined ice and beverage dispensing machine  10  is adapted to be mounted on a flat surface  20 . 
     The ice storage bin  12  includes longitudinally spaced front and rear walls  22  and  24 , and laterally spaced side walls  26  (one shown) which extend vertically upward from a base to form an open container for easy internal access. The ice storage bin  12  further includes a lid  28  which allows for closure of this open container. The front wall  22  is provided with an inclined discharge chute  30  to deliver ice from the ice storage bin  12  to the ice dispensing chute assembly  16 . The inclined discharge chute  30  has an inclined surface  32  on which ice from the ice storage bin  12  travels during the dispensing cycle. 
     The ice storage bin  12  houses a cylindrical rotor, paddle wheel or auger  34  for scooping up ice in the ice storage bin  12  and delivering this ice to the inclined discharge chute  30 . A sweep arm  36  for agitating the ice, and an electric motor (not shown) having a drive shaft (not shown) for simultaneously rotatably driving the cylindrical rotor, paddle wheel or auger  34  and the sweep arm  36  together as a unit are also housed in the ice storage bin  12 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the ice dispensing chute assembly  16  is shown including a left side bracket  38 , a right side bracket  40 , a rotating chute  42 , a door assembly  44  and a switch  46 . The left side bracket  38  and the right side bracket  40  are mounted by any suitable mounting means to an outer surface  48  of the ice storage bin  12 . As illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, located between the left side bracket  38  and the right side bracket  40  is the inclined discharge chute  30 . 
     The rotating chute  42  is in communication with and located adjacent to the inclined discharge chute  30 . The rotating chute  42  is generally rectangular in shape and includes an upper portion  50  having a forward end  52  and a rearward end  54 , a lower portion  56 , a front wall  58 , a rear wall  60 , a right side wall  62  and a left side wall  64 . The rotating chute  42  is pivotally attached to the left side bracket  38  and the right side bracket  40  at pivot points or shafts  66  and  67  located at the forward end  52  of the upper portion  50 . The rearward end  54  of the upper portion  50  of the rotating chute  42  is supported by a shaft  68  having a T-shaped cross section. The T-shaped shaft  68  extends between the left side wall  64  and the right side wall  62  of the rotating chute  42 . The rotating chute  42  also includes an upwardly extending projection  70  located at the rearward end  54  of the upper portion  50 . A lever  72  is located at the lower portion  56  of the rotating chute  42 . A notch (not shown) in the rear wall  60  at the lower portion  56  of the rotating chute  42  may be included to help locate the lever  72 . An elevated surface resembling a push button  74  is located on the front wall  58  of the rotating chute  42 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, the door assembly  44  of the ice dispensing chute assembly  16  includes a door  76 , a door support  78 , a rotating latch member  80  and a T-shaped stop  82 . The door  76  of the door assembly  44  includes a distal end  84  and a proximal end  86  having shafts  87 . The distal end  84  of the door  76  includes a drip edge  88  which extends below the inclined surface  32  of the inclined discharge chute  30  when the door  76  is in its fully closed position as illustrated in FIG.  4 . The door support member  78  is generally triangular in shape and includes a distal end  90 , a proximal end  92 , a left side wall  93 , a right side wall  97  and an inclined back wall  99 . The distal end  90  of the door support member  78  is connected to the door  76  intermediate the distal end  84  and the proximal end  86  of the door  76 , while the proximal end  92  of the door support member  78  is pivotally attached to the left side bracket  38  and the right side bracket  40  at pivot points or shafts  94  and  95 , respectively. 
     The rotating latch member  80  of the door assembly  44  includes a distal end  96  and a proximal end  98 . The distal end  96  of the rotating latch member  80  snaps onto and pivots about the shafts  87  of the proximal end  86  of the door  76 . While the door  76  is in a fully closed position, the proximal end  98  of the rotating latch member  80  rests on the T-shaped stop  82  as illustrated in FIG.  4 . Thus, when ice is no longer required by the user, the door  76  of the door assembly  44  of the ice dispensing chute assembly  16  is substantially locked in place preventing the further flow of ice. 
     The switch  46  of the ice dispensing chute assembly  16  is mounted, by any suitable mounting means, to either the left side bracket  38  or the right side bracket  40 . The switch  46  is illustrated in FIGS. 2-6 as being mounted to an inner surface  100  of the left side bracket  38 . The switch  46  includes a lever arm  102 . The switch  46  can be of any standard, commonly known switch in the industry. When activated, the switch  46  initiates the process by which ice from the ice storage bin  12  is dispensed. The combination of the door assembly  44  and the switch  46  of the ice dispensing chute assembly  16  prevents excessive ice spillage due to ice run over by stopping the flow of ice from the ice storage bin  12  and shortly thereafter closing the door  76  preventing such excessive ice from exiting the inclined discharge chute  30 . 
     FIGS. 4-6 illustrate the ice dispensing chute assembly  16  as it progresses through an initial, neutral operating position, an intermediate operating position and a fully extended, open operating position, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the ice dispensing chute assembly  16  is in its initial, latched, neutral position. The door  76  of the door assembly  44  is securely closed, the drip edge  88  extends below the inclined surface  32  of the inclined discharge chute  30 , preventing ice from exiting the inclined discharge chute  30 . The proximal end  98  of the rotating latch member  80  is resting on the T-shaped stop  82 . During operation, when ice is required, a user pushes on the push lever  72  with a cup or pushes on the elevated surface resembling a push button  74  which thereby causes the rotating chute  42  to rotate in a rearward direction towards the ice storage bin  12  in the direction of arrow A. As the rotating chute  42  continues to rotate, the upwardly extending projection  70  engages the rotating latch member  80  lifting it off of and away from the T-shaped stop  82 . As the rotating chute  42  continues to rotate in its rearward direction towards the ice storage bin  12 , in the direction of arrow A, the shaft  68 , having a T-shaped cross section and extending between the left side wall  64  and the right side wall  62  of the rotating chute  42 , contacts the door support member  78  at a point intermediate the distal end  90  and the proximal end  92  of the door support member  78  causing the door  76  to rotate open. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 5, further rotation of the rotating chute  42  in a rearward direction towards the ice storage bin  12  in the direction of arrow A causes the shaft  68  to continue to engage the door support member  78  at a point intermediate the distal end  90  and the proximal end  92  of the door support member  78  causing the distal end  96  of the rotating latch member  80  to engage the lever arm  102  of the switch  46 . With the switch  46  engaged, the flow of ice from the ice storage bin  12  is initiated. The engaged switch  46  causes the cylindrical rotor, paddle wheel or auger  34  to rotate, scooping up ice in the ice storage bin  12  and delivering it to the inclined discharge chute  30 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6, as the rotating chute  42  continues to rotate, moving in a rearward direction towards the ice storage bin  12 , in the direction of arrow A, the door  76  is in its fully open position and the switch  46  is fully engaged. Accordingly, with the door  76  in its fully open position, the flow of ice from the ice storage bin  12  enters the inclined discharge chute  30 , exits the inclined discharge chute  30 , and then enters the rotating chute  42  at the upper portion  50 . The flow of ice then continues through the rotating chute  42  (due to gravity) exiting at the lower portion  56  of the rotating chute  42 . 
     When a user has received the amount of ice that is preferred, removal of pressure from the lever  72  or the elevated surface resembling a push button  74  allows the rotating chute  42  to rotate (due to gravity) back to its initial, neutral position as illustrated in FIG.  4 . As the rotating chute  42  rotates back to its initial, neutral position, the distal end  96  of the rotating latch member  80  disengages the switch  46  which stops the cylindrical rotor, paddle wheel or auger  34  from rotating which in turn stops the flow of ice from the ice storage bin  12  to the inclined discharge chute  30 . Additionally, as the rotating chute  42  rotates back to its initial, latched, neutral position, the shaft  68 , having a T-shaped cross section, disengages from the door support member  78  thereby allowing the door  76  to rotate back to its closed position. Thereafter, the upwardly extending projection  70  disengages from the rotating latch member  80  allowing the proximal end  98  of the rotating latch member  80  to return to the T-shaped stop  82  thereby preventing the door from opening and any remaining ice in the inclined discharge chute  30  from exiting into the rotating chute  42 . 
     While the above detailed description describes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be understood and appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and alteration without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.