Abstract:
An automated ice dispenser ( 30 ) decouples the action of agitating ice stored in an ice bin ( 69 ) and the action of dispensing the ice and, additionally, uses a controlled action to dispense the ice. Agitation is achieved with a horizontally mounted agitator ( 91 ). Ice is dispensed with a horizontally mounted auger ( 124 ). The ice dispenser ( 30 ) uses the force created by the auger ( 124 ) to push the ice through an opening ( 71 ) and out of the bin ( 69 ), making the dispensing more consistent and providing the ability to overcome clumping. By making the agitation action independent of the dispensing action, the incidence of clumping is reduced. Agitation is controlled by software, whereunder the agitator ( 91 ) turns on based on the cumulative run time of the auger ( 124 ). Auger run time and agitation time (as well as other configurable parameters) are adjustable by DIP switches ( 134 ) on a control board ( 133 ).

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and all available benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/688,238 filed May 10, 2012. By this reference, the full disclosure of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/688,238, including the drawings, is incorporated herein as though now set forth in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to food and beverage handling. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel, preferably integrated, ice and beverage dispenser wherein there is provided decoupled agitation and dispensing of ice. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The reliable automated dispensing of extruded ice (also commonly known as pellet, nugget or chewable ice) from a storage bin has long been difficult for manufacturers of ice, and ice and beverage, dispensers. In particular, it has long been known that the extruded ice forms ice blocks inside the storage bin and clumps easily resulting in clogged dispense mechanisms. Notwithstanding this long recognized drawback of the prior art, however, an effective solution to this problem has heretofore eluded the industry. 
     With this disadvantage of the prior art clearly in mind, therefore, it is an overriding object of the present invention to improve over the prior art by setting forth methods and apparatus for implementing an automated ice dispenser such that dispensing of extruded ice may be reliably had. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to set forth such methods and apparatus as also provide ancillary advantages and other benefits in the handling of beverage products. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—an integrated ice and beverage dispenser with improved methods and apparatus for handing extruded ice—generally comprises an integrated ice and beverage dispenser (or, in the alternative, simply an automated ice dispenser) having implemented or otherwise provided therein methods and apparatus for decoupling the action of agitating the ice stored in an ice bin and the action of dispensing the ice and for using a controlled action to dispense the ice. The agitation is achieved with an agitator, preferably with the axis mounted horizontally. The ice is dispensed with an auger, also preferably installed horizontally. 
     In a sharp departure from the prior art, wherein the most common method of dispensing ice is to agitate the ice in a bin and then to rely on gravity to force the ice through an opening and out of the bin, which problematically typically results in extruded ice clumped in pieces that are larger than the opening, the present invention contemplates that the ice dispenser uses the force created by the auger to push the ice through an opening and out of the bin. This makes the dispensing more consistent and provides the ability to overcome any clumping. Also, by making the agitation action independent of the dispensing action, the incidence of clumping is reduced. The agitation is controlled by software or like control means, whereunder the agitator turns on based on the cumulative run time of the auger. Additionally, the auger run time and the agitation time (as well as other configurable parameters) preferably can be adjusted by DIP or like switches on or in communication with a control board or the like provided as part of the host dispenser. 
     Finally, many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows, in a perspective view, an integrated ice and beverage dispenser as adapted for implementation of the present invention and, in particular, shows various external details of the housing for the dispenser as well as the ice chute assembly, plurality of beverage product nozzle assemblies and drip tray of the dispenser; 
         FIG. 2  shows, in a front elevational view, the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1  as presented in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows, in a perspective view generally corresponding to that of  FIG. 1 , the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1  as presented with various elements of the housing removed therefrom; 
         FIG. 4  shows, in a detail view identified in  FIG. 3 , various details of the ice chute assembly and the auger assembly of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows, in a partially exploded view generally corresponding to the views of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , various additional details of the ice chute assembly of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows, in a front elevational view generally corresponding to the view of  FIG. 2  as presented with various elements of the housing removed therefrom, various details of the interior of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1  and, in particular, shows various details of the agitator assembly and the auger assembly of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows, in a top plan view, various additional details of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1  as presented in  FIG. 6  and, in particular, shows various additional details of the agitator assembly and the auger assembly as located in and contained by the ice bin of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows, in a cross-sectional side elevation view taken through cut line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 , various additional details of the auger assembly, ice chute assembly, cold plate, ice bin and ice bin insert of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows, in a cross-sectional side elevation view taken through cut line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 7 , various additional details of the agitator assembly, cold plate, ice bin and ice bin insert of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows, in a perspective view generally oriented consistent with  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the ice bin insert of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  shows, in a flowchart, top level details of an exemplary main ice control program as may be implemented for operation of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the methods of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  shows, in a flowchart, top level details of an exemplary agitation monitor routine as may be implemented in connection with the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for operation of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1  in accordance with further methods of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary monitor ice controls routine as may be implemented under the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for operation of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 14  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary begin dispensing function as may be implemented in connection with the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for software controlled activation of the auger assembly of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 15  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary monitor normal dispense routine as may be implemented under the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for operation of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 16  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary begin agitation function as may be implemented in connection with the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for software controlled activation of the agitator assembly of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 17  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary monitor replenishment routine as may be implemented under the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for operation of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 18  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary end agitation function as may be implemented in connection with the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for software controlled deactivation of the agitator assembly of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 19  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary end dispensing function as may be implemented in connection with the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for software controlled deactivation of the auger assembly of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 20  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary monitor complete replenishment routine as may be implemented under the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  for operation of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 21  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary monitor timed agitation routine as may be implemented under the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  in connection with implementation of the further methods of the present invention enabled in implementation of the agitation monitor routine of  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 22  shows, in a flowchart, an exemplary monitor dispense during agitation routine as may be implemented under the main ice control program of  FIG. 11  in connection with implementation of the further methods of the present invention enabled in implementation of the agitation monitor routine of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims drawn hereto. 
     Referring now to the figures, and to  FIGS. 1 through 3  in particular, an integrated ice and beverage dispenser  30  as particularly suitable and adapted for implementation of the methods and apparatus of the present invention is shown to generally comprise a conventional housing  36  disposed about an ice chute assembly  46  and an ice bin  69  and, most preferably, a plurality of beverage product nozzle assemblies  65 , which are each conventionally provided with an activator  66  and like components. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the various components of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser  30  are arranged on and about a conventional interior frame assembly, such as is well known to those of skill in the art, and which is typically supported atop a plurality of preferably self leveling feet  44 , each of which feet  44  may additionally include such conventional features as nonskid bottoms  45  or the like. 
     As is conventional in the art, the housing  36  preferably comprises a wrapper  37  sized, shaped and otherwise adapted to extend about the sides  32  and back, or rear portion,  37  of the dispenser  30  and which may, if desired in a particular implementation of the present invention, also be adapted to provide primary or supplemental thermal insulation for the ice bin  69  located within the interior  68  space of the dispenser  30 . Likewise, the housing  36  also preferably comprises a front cover  38  over and about the upper front  34  of the dispenser  30 , which front cover  38  may be conventionally provided with a merchandizing panel  39 . As will be better understood further herein, the front cover  38  as most preferably implemented in connection with the present invention is also sized, shaped and otherwise adapted to protectively enclose various components of the ice chute assembly  46  as well as all or various components of an agitator assembly  91 , an auger assembly  123  and an ice dispensing circuit  133 , each of which will be described in greater detail further herein. In any case, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the housing  36  may also include a conventional splash plate  40  disposed about the front portion of the base  35  of the dispenser  30  as well as a conventional drip tray  67 . Finally, the housing  36  also preferably comprises a lid  41  at the upper end  31  of the dispenser  31  for access to the ice bin  69 , which lid  41  may be conventionally attached to the wrapper  37  of the housing  36  or other suitable portion of the dispenser  30  with hinges  43  or like attachments (or, alternatively, may simply rest atop the dispenser  30 ) and may conveniently be provided with one or more handles  42  for facilitating opening and/or removal. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 through 6 , in particular, the ice chute assembly  46  as most preferably implemented for use in connection with the present invention, generally comprises a discharge chute  47  having dependently affixed thereto a cover  57 . The discharge chute  47  dependently mounts to the front  34  of the dispenser  30  over and about an ice passage  71 , which passage  71  extends from within the ice bin  69 , through the front wall  70  of the ice bin  69  at the front  34  of the dispenser  30 , to without the dispenser  30 . As shown in the figures, the discharge chute  47  also itself comprises an ice passage  49 , which passage  49  generally corresponds in size and shape to the ice passage  71  through the front wall  70  of the ice bin  69  at the front  34  of the dispenser  30 . In order to maintain the thermal integrity of the ice bin  69 , however, a gate  50 , as particularly shown in  FIG. 5 , is provided and adapted to substantially close the ice passage  49  of the discharge chute  48  during periods between active dispensing of ice from the ice bin  69 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a mounting pin  51  is utilized to hingedly affix the provided gate  50  to gate mounting arms  55  provided on the discharge chute  47  adjacent to and above the ice passage  49  thereof. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the force of ice being ejected from the ice bin  69  through the provided ice passages  71 ,  49  will simply cause the gate  50  to swing out and up, thereby allowing the ejected ice to pass freely. Upon clearing of the ice, as the ice flows under the force of gravity down and over the outlet lip  56  of the discharge chute  47 , the force of gravity will also cause the gate  50  to simply swing back into closed position over the ice passage  49  of the discharge chute  47 . In the alternative, however, those of ordinary skill in the art will in light of this exemplary description recognize that a solenoid or like device may be coupled to the gate  50  for forcibly opening the gate  50  before activation of the auger assembly  123 , as otherwise described herein with respect to the begin dispensing function  152  of  FIG. 14 , and/or forcibly closing the gate  50  following deactivation of the auger assembly  123 , as otherwise described herein with respect to the end dispensing function  185  of  FIG. 19 . As also will, in light of this exemplary description, be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, in any implementation of such a solenoid or the like, the exemplary begin dispensing function  152  of  FIG. 14  and/or the exemplary end dispensing function  185  of  FIG. 19  may readily be altered to include steps for sending appropriate control signals to such a solenoid or like device. 
     As also particularly shown in  FIG. 5 , the cover  57  over the discharge chute  47  is provided with a pair of cover mounting holes  59  which are sized, shaped and otherwise adapted to fit over and about a corresponding pair of cover mounting bosses  48  provided on the upper, outer sides of the discharge chute  47 . As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art in light of this exemplary description, the provided cover mounting holes  59  and corresponding cover mounting bosses  48  thus cooperate to hingedly attach the cover  57  to the discharge chute  47 . Additionally, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an electric switch  53 , which, as will be better understood further herein, is provided to signal to the ice dispensing circuit  133  that a user desires to obtain ice, is mounted to the discharge chute  47 . As also shown in the figures, a switch coupling  62  is provided mounted to the cover  57 . Finally, in order to bias the hingedly attached cover  57  in a position flat atop the upper edges of the discharge chute  47 , a spring  61  formed in the cover  57  is positioned under and adjacent to a spring stop  54  provided on the discharge chute  47 . As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art in light of this exemplary description, the foregoing described arrangement results in an integral activator  58  formed as part of the ice chute assembly  46  such that when a user presses a cup, or otherwise applies force front to back, against a downwardly projecting lever arm  60  of the cover  57  (which lever arm  60  is conveniently dependently mounted to a directional outlet  63  provided as part of the cover  57 ) the cover  57  pivots slightly about the cover mounting bosses  48  of the discharge chute  47  causing the spring  61  to compress against the spring stop  54  to allow raising by the switch coupling  62  of the switch  53 , thereby activating the switch  53 . Likewise, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that upon removal of force against the lever arm  60  the spring  61  will act against the spring stop  54  to return the cover  57  to its resting position, which in turn will cause deactivation of the switch  53 . 
     Referring then to  FIGS. 4 through 8 , in particular, the auger assembly  123  as most preferably implemented in accordance with the present invention is shown to generally comprise an auger, or screw, conveyor  124  and an electric motor  129 . As shown in the figures, the auger conveyor  124  conventionally comprises a generally helical blade  125  coiled about an elongate drive shaft  126 , the first, drive end  127  of which terminates in a drive bushing  131  of a gearbox  130  operably engaged with the electric motor  129 . The second, distal end  128  of the drive shaft  126 , on the other hand, is dependently rotationally supported by an auger bushing  75  (or journal bearing), which is preferably provided in the rear wall  73  of the ice bin  69 . As particularly shown in  FIG. 8 , the auger conveyor  124  as dependently supported between the drive bushing  131  and the auger bushing  75  is horizontally installed within the ice bin  69  of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser  30 . Additionally, as particularly shown in  FIG. 7 , the horizontally installed auger conveyor  124  is also preferably installed along and adjacent to the second side wall  77  of the ice bin  69 , as shown in the exemplary embodiment, or, in the alternative (not shown), along and adjacent to the first sidewall  76  of the ice bin  69 . In any case, as clearly shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , this orientation and location of the auger conveyor  124  enables the forced ejection of ice from any location adjacent to the chosen sidewall front to back within the ice bin  69 . In a departure from the known prior art, the provision of an auger assembly  123  for the forced ejection of ice from the ice bin  69  has been found by Applicant to greatly alleviate many of the shortcomings of the prior art as relate to the tendency of extruded ice, in particular, to clump or otherwise form ice blocks in the dispense mechanism. 
     As most clearly depicted in  FIG. 8 , it is noted that in the described exemplary description, the first, drive end  127  of the drive shaft  126  passes through the ice chute assembly  46  to the gearbox  130 , which, along with the electric motor  129 , is mounted to the outside of the ice chute assembly  47  through a provided auger motor mount  132 , as most clearly depicted in  FIG. 4 . In order to accommodate this novel arrangement, however, an elongate ovoid auger drive aperture  52 , through which the first, drive end  127  of the drive shaft  126  passes, is provided through the gate  50  over the ice passage  49  of the discharge chute  47 . In this manner, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the gate  50  may freely swing up and down, its operation being wholly unimpeded by the passage therethrough of the first, drive end  127  of the drive shaft  126 . Likewise, a slightly ovoid auger drive aperture  64 , through which the first, drive end  127  of the drive shaft  126  also passes, is provided through the cover  57  over the discharge chute  47 . As also will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the provision of the slightly ovoid auger drive aperture  64  through the cover  57  enables the cover  57  over the discharge chute  47  to rock freely within its previously described range of motion, its operation being wholly unimpeded by the passage therethrough of the first, drive end  127  of the drive shaft  126 . 
     Turning now, then, to  FIGS. 3 ,  6 ,  7  and  9 , in particular, the agitator assembly  91  as most preferably implemented in the accordance with the present invention is shown to generally comprise an agitator bar assembly  92  and an electric motor  118 . Although any of the various features and components of the present invention may generally be combined to greater or lesser extent than presently described, it is deemed a critical aspect of the present invention that the agitator assembly  91  may be operated separately and independently from the operation of the auger assembly  123  such that ice within the ice bin  69  may generally be agitated, jostled or the like at any desired time for agitation and regardless of whether at such a desired time for agitation ice is being dispensed from within the ice bin  69  and, likewise, ice may be dispensed from within the ice bin  69  at any desired time for dispensation and regardless of whether at such time for dispensation ice is being agitated within the ice bin  69 . To that end, as used herein, the term “decoupled” as applied to the agitation and dispensing operations under the present invention, or to the implementation under the present invention of the agitator assembly  91  and the auger assembly  123 , shall be defined as referring to the described independence of operation. The term “decoupled” should not, however, imply that the two operations could not be simultaneously conducted, but rather that they may be independently conducted. 
     In any case, as shown in the previously referenced figures, the agitator bar assembly  92  as implemented in connection with the present invention preferably comprises a first, preferably canted paddle assembly  93  dependently radially supported from a drive shaft  115  and an adjacent second, preferably canted paddle assembly  104  also dependently radially supported from the drive shaft  115 , the second paddle assembly  104  most preferably being provided generally opposite the first paddle assembly  93  with respect to the drive shaft  115 , as most clearly depicted in  FIG. 7 . As will be better appreciated further herein, the paddle assemblies  93 ,  104  are during operation of the agitator assembly  91  rotated through the ice supply within the ice bin  69  by the drive shaft  115 . To this end, a first, drive end  116  of the drive shaft  115  is operably interfaced with the provided electric motor  118  while a second, distal end  117  of the drive shaft is, on the other hand, dependently rotationally supported by an agitator bushing  74  (or journal bearing), which is preferably provided in the rear wall  73  of the ice bin  69 , as particularly shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 . 
     As shown in the figures, and most particularly as is shown in  FIG. 9 , the electric motor  118  of the agitator assembly  91  is most preferably operably interfaced to the drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  92  through a gearbox  119  or, alternatively, a belt or chain drive, such that the electric motor  118  may operate at a conventional rotational speed while the drive shaft  115  and attached paddle assemblies  93 ,  104  are more moderately and gently, albeit forcefully, rotated through the ice contained within the ice bin  69 . Additionally, in order to facilitate removal from the ice bin  69  of the agitator bar assembly  92  for cleaning and/or removal and replacement of the ice bin insert  81  (described further herein), the drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  92  is also preferably connected through a provided drive coupling  121  to a separate drive shaft  120  extending from the gearbox  119 . Finally, as particularly shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the electric motor  118  and gearbox  119  are dependently supported from the front  34  of the dispenser  30  by a provided agitator motor mount  122 . 
     Regardless of the particular interface implemented, however, and as particularly shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  92  as dependently supported between the drive coupling  121  (or other implemented interface to the electric motor  118 ) and the agitator bushing  74  is horizontally installed within the ice bin  69  of the ice and beverage dispenser  30 . Additionally, as particularly shown in  FIG. 7 , the horizontally installed drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  92  is also preferably installed at a generally central location within the ice bin  69  and in an orientation most preferably substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the auger conveyor  124 . In any case, as clearly shown in  FIGS. 7 through 9 , this orientation and location of the drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  92 , and consequently of the greater agitator assembly  91 , results in the agitator assembly  91  being cooperatively adapted with the auger assembly  123  to feed ice within the ice bin  69  to the auger conveyor  124  of the auger assembly  123 . 
     With this in mind, and as particularly shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , the first, preferably canted paddle assembly  93  and the second, preferably canted paddle assembly  104  are described in detail. In describing the assemblies  93 ,  104 , however, it is noted that it is assumed that the electric motor  118  and gearbox  119  are configured such that the agitator bar assembly will rotate in counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front  34  of the dispenser  30  to the back  33  of the dispenser  30 . That said, the first paddle assembly  93  comprises a first, “leading” radial arm  94  connected at a first end  95  thereof to the drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  93  and a second, “trailing” radial arm  97  connected at a first end  98  thereof to the drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  93 . A paddle  100 , which, in order to prevent excessive compaction of the extruded ice contained within the ice bin  69 , preferably comprises a narrow blade-like structure  101 , is connected at a first end  102  thereof to the second end  96  of the first, leading radial arm  94  of the first paddle assembly  93 . Likewise, the paddle  100  is connected at a second end  103  thereof to the second end  99  of the second, trailing radial arm  97  of the first paddle assembly  93 . As shown in the figures, and assuming that as shown the first paddle assembly  93  is positioned on the drive shaft  115  toward the front portion of the ice bin  69 , the first, leading radial arm  94  is most preferably positioned toward the “outside” of the first paddle assembly  93  adjacent to the front wall  70  of the ice bin  69  such that, as the agitator bar assembly  92  rotates through the ice, the ice encountered by the paddle  100  of the first paddle assembly  93  will tend to be jostled both toward the center of the ice bin  69  and toward the center of the auger conveyor  124 . 
     Similarly, the second paddle assembly  104  comprises a first, “leading” radial arm  105  connected at a first end  106  thereof to the drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  93  and a second, “trailing” radial arm  108  connected at a first end  109  thereof to the drive shaft  115  of the agitator bar assembly  93 . A paddle  111 , which like the paddle  100  of the first paddle assembly  93  also preferably comprises a narrow blade-like structure  112 , is connected at a first end  113  thereof to the second end  107  of the first, leading radial arm  105  of the second paddle assembly  104 . Likewise, the paddle  111  is connected at a second end  114  thereof to the second end  110  of the second, trailing radial arm  108  of the second paddle assembly  104 . As shown in the figures, and assuming, consistent with the previous discussion of the first paddle assembly  93 , that the second paddle assembly  104  is positioned on the drive shaft  115  toward the rear portion of the ice bin  69 , the first, leading radial arm  105  is most preferably positioned toward the “outside” of the second paddle assembly  104  adjacent to the rear wall  73  of the ice bin  69  such that, as the agitator bar assembly  92  rotates through the ice, the ice encountered by the paddle  111  of the second paddle assembly  104  will tend to be jostled both toward the center of the ice bin  69  and toward the center of the auger conveyor  124 . 
     Referring then to  FIGS. 7 through 10 , in particular, it is noted that in order to enable gentle jostling within the ice bin  69  of the extruded ice contained therein, the agitator bar assembly  92  preferably operates adjacent to and just above an agitator trough  82 . As particularly shown in  FIG. 10 , the provided agitator trough  82  most preferably comprises a semicircular cross-section, the radius of which is only slightly greater than the radius of the circular path traversed by the outermost portions of the paddles  100 ,  111  of the agitator bar assembly  92 . Likewise, in order to provide a semi-segregated area for operation of the auger assembly  123 , the auger, or screw, conveyor  124  preferably operates adjacent to and just above a separate auger trough  84 , which preferably is located a distance above and laterally offset from the lowermost portion of the agitator trough  82 . Similar to the configuration of the agitator trough  82 , and also as particularly shown in  FIG. 10 , the provided auger trough  84  most preferably comprises a semicircular cross-section, the radius of which is only slightly greater than the radius of the circular path traversed by the outermost portions of the blade  125  of the auger conveyor  124 . Because of the spatial separation afforded by the separately provided troughs  82 ,  84 , the bulk of the ice within the ice bin  69  may periodically be gently jostled separate and apart from the relatively small portion of ice that has found its way into contact with the helical blade  125  of the auger conveyor  123  and which, as a consequence, may have suffered some degree of compaction. Additionally, those of ordinary skill in the art will with the benefit of this exemplary disclosure recognize that, with the arrangement as depicted in  FIG. 10 , operation of the agitator assembly  91  will tend to scoop ice located in the main portion of the ice bin  69  upward and into the trough  83  underlying the auger assembly  123 , thereby shuffling the loosely packed ice from the area adjacent the first side wall  76  of the ice bin  69  and toward the second side wall  77  of the ice bin adjacent to the auger assembly  123 . 
     Although the described troughs  82 ,  84  could readily be formed as the floor of the ice bin  69 , the most preferred implementation of the present invention contemplates that the troughs  82 ,  84  will be provided in connection with an ice bin insert  81  adapted to rest upon the floor  79  of the ice bin  69 , thereby serving to separate the ice bin  69  into an upper compartment  79  and a lower compartment  80 . In this manner, the present invention additionally provides means for servicing of a cold plate  89 , which, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, comprises a block structure of thermally conductive material through which is provided one or more internal beverage product passages  90  in fluid communication with one or more beverage product nozzle assemblies  65 . Specifically, as shown in the various figures and, in particular, in  FIG. 10 , the ice bin insert  81  is provided with a plurality of apertures  83  through which small quantities of extruded ice may fall from the upper compartment  79  to the lower compartment  80  as ice in the lower compartment  80  melts. As will be better appreciated further herein, the methods of the present invention specifically support this arrangement inasmuch as the agitator assembly  91  may be operated independently of whether ice is dispensed by the auger assembly  123  in order to periodically jostle the ice over and above the apertures  83 , thereby ensuring that ice bridges do not form over the apertures  83  and, consequently, that there is always a ready supply of ice in the lower compartment  80 . 
     Finally, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the floor  78  of the of the ice bin  69  is preferably sloping (as depicted, forward sloping) such that as ice in the lower compartment  80  melts the resulting water may drain through a provided drain connection  135 . As a result, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the front face  85  and the rear face  87  of the ice bin insert  81  are adapted to accommodate the sloping floor  78  such that as the bottom edges  85 ,  88 , respectively, of the faces  85 ,  87  rest upon the floor  78  the agitator trough  82  and the auger trough  84  remain substantially level and in close conformance about the agitator assembly  92  and the auger conveyor  124 , respectively. 
     Turning now then to the methods of operation of the present invention, there is shown in  FIGS. 11 through 22  various flowcharts detailing an exemplary software program flow. It should be noted, however, that none of the flowcharts, nor any terminology, notation, form, symbol, variable name, variable usage or the like used therein or in this description, is meant to limit the methods to any particular programming style, language or the like, such details of implementation being entirely within the realm of design choice and all well within the ordinary skill in the art in light of the following exemplary description of the concepts of operation. Likewise, although the most preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates implementation through software, the invention is not to be limited to such a software implementation, but rather may comprise software, firmware, hardware or the like, or any combination thereof, in realization of any implemented functionality. As a result, the description following should, unless otherwise expressly indication or otherwise clearly limited, be taken as being exemplary only of the inventive concepts claimed as the present invention. 
     Continuing then with the discussion of the exemplary implementation of the methods of the present invention and the manner of use of the invention, and as shown in  FIG. 11 , various variables are initialized upon starting (step  137 ) of the exemplary main ice control program  136 , which, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, may occur automatically upon power up by a user of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser  30 . In particular, and assuming that the optional agitation monitor routine  143  of  FIG. 12  (which will be better understood further herein) is implemented, a needsAgitate variable is set (step  138 ) to FALSE to indicate that the agitator assembly  91  need not at the present time be activated solely as a matter of the passage of time. Additionally, an augerRunTime variable, which tracks the cumulative time that the auger assembly  123  has operated since the beginning of the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  and, consequently, serves as a measure of the depletion of ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  due to the dispensing of ice, is initialized (step  139 ) to ZERO. Finally, a timeLastAgitate variable, which tracks the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began, is initialized (step  140 ) to the then present time timeNow. With the main variables so initialized, the main ice control program calls (step  141 ) the monitor ice controls routine  142 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , under which the routine  142  cycles through a repeat loop  149  to determine (1) whether the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected by a user, indicating that the user desires that ice be dispensed, or (2) whether agitation of the ice within the ice bin  69  is required as a matter of the passage of time as determined by the agitation monitor routine  143  of  FIG. 12 . 
     As previously mentioned, the agitation monitor routine  143  of  FIG. 12  is a routine that allows for activation and operation of the agitator assembly  91  solely as a matter of the passage of time. While the agitation monitor routine  143  need not be implemented in order to realize at least some aspects of the present invention, it is noted that the routine  143  is particularly useful and desired for ensuring that ice within the ice bin  69  does not freeze into clumps between agitation cycles triggered in response to dispensing operations and/or that ice in the lower compartment  80  of the ice bin  69  is replenished upon melting. In any case, utilization of an implemented agitation monitor routine  143  may controlled by selecting the utilization of the feature with DIP switches  134  or the like provided on the ice dispensing circuit  133 . If implemented and operational, the agitation monitor routine  143  will generally start (step  144 ) concurrently with the main ice control program  136 . Under the agitation monitor routine  143 , a repeat loop  145  operates to continuously determine whether the elapsed time since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began, i.e. timeNow—timeLastAgitate, has exceeded a preferably user configurable constant MAX_TIME_AGIT_OFF indicating the maximum length of time that should ever pass without activation of the agitator assembly (step  146 ). If the elapsed time since agitator assembly  91  was last activated is ever found by the agitation monitor routine  143  to have exceeded the set maximum allowed time, the variable needsAgitate is set (step  147 ) to TRUE and the condition is handled by the monitor ice controls routine  142  of  FIG. 13  as described further herein. 
     Turning then to  FIG. 13 , and as previously mentioned, upon starting (step  148 ) of the monitor ice controls routine  142  (step  141 ), a repeat loop  149  operates to determine (1) whether the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  150 ), indicating that a user desires that ice be dispensed, or (2) whether agitation of the ice within the ice bin  69  is required (a) as a matter of the passage of time as determined by the agitation monitor routine  143  of  FIG. 12  (step  203 ) and (b), as indicated by a TRUE value of a flag AGIT MONITOR ENAB, the optional monitoring implemented by the agitation monitor routine  143  is active. So long as neither condition of the repeat loop  149  returns TRUE, the repeat loop  149  continues to cycle. If, on the other hand, either condition checks TRUE, the first in condition sequence to so check will trigger additional action. In particular, if it is first determined that the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  150 ), the monitor ice controls routine will operate to first call (step  151 ) the begin dispensing function  152  of  FIG. 14 , thereby causing, as described further herein, activation of the auger assembly  123 . Upon return from the begin dispensing function  152 , the monitor ice controls routine  142  will then operate to call (step  156 ) the monitor normal dispense routine  157  of  FIG. 15 , under which, as will be better understood further herein, the depletion of ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  due to the dispensing of ice is monitored as ice is dispensed from the ice bin  69 , thereby ensuring that sufficient ice supply remains available throughout the dispensing operation. If, on the other hand, it is first determined that agitation of the ice within the ice bin  69  is required as a matter of the passage of time (step  203 ), the monitor ice controls routine  142  will operate to first call (step  204 ) the begin agitation function  165  of  FIG. 16 , thereby causing, as described further herein, activation of the agitator assembly  91 . Upon return from the begin agitation function  165 , the monitor ice controls routine  142  will then operate to call (step  205 ) the monitor timed agitation routine  206  of  FIG. 21 , under which, as will be better understood further herein, the routine  206  operates to monitor whether, during passage of the established time for agitation, the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  209 ), indicating that a user desires that ice be dispensed and, if so, ensures that the user&#39;s desire is immediately acted upon. 
     As discussed hereinabove, if it is determined under the monitor ice controls routine  142  that the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  150 ), the monitor ice controls routine  142  will operate to first call (step  151 ) the begin dispensing function  152  of  FIG. 14 . As depicted in  FIG. 14 , upon starting (step  153 ) of the begin dispensing function  152 , the timeLastDispense variable is set (step  154 ) to the then present time timeNow and a control signal is sent (step  224 ) to activate the electric motor  129  of the auger assembly  123 , the details of implementation of such control signal being well within the ordinary skill in the art. As previously discussed, the auger assembly  123  will then begin operating to dispense ice from the ice bin  69  through the ice chute assembly  46 . In any case, upon sending (step  224 ) of the control signal to activate the auger assembly, the begin dispensing function  152  will then return (step  155 ) to the program flow location immediately following that from which the function  152  was called, which in the present case is back to the monitor ice controls routine  142  of  FIG. 13  to then call (step  156 ) the monitor normal dispense routine  157  of  FIG. 15 . 
     Referring then to  FIG. 15 , upon starting (step  158 ) of the monitor normal dispense routine  157 , a repeat loop  159  is initiated under which (1) the continued deflection or release of the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  is monitored and determined and (2) the total time that the auger assembly  123  has operated since the beginning of the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  is monitored to ensure that ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  remains sufficient to continue the dispensing operation without need for replenishment through activation of the agitator assembly  91 . If during the repeat loop  159  it is first determined that the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  is no longer deflected (step  160 ), the monitor normal dispense routine  157  escapes the repeat loop  159  and immediately calls (step  201 ) the end dispensing function  185  of  FIG. 19 . Upon starting (step  186 ) the end dispensing function  185 , as shown in  FIG. 19 , a timeDispensing variable is calculated (step  187 ) as the length of time elapsed under the present dispensing operation; the calculated dispensing time is added (step  188 ) to the cumulative augerRunTime variable, which, as previously discussed, tracks the cumulative time that the auger assembly  123  has operated since the beginning of the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91 ; and a control signal (the details of implementation of such control signal being well within the ordinary skill in the art) is sent (step  189 ) to deactivate the electric motor  129  of the auger assembly  123 , after which the end dispensing function  185  will then return (step  190 ) to the program flow location immediately following that from which the function  185  was called, which in the present case is back the monitor normal dispense routine  157  of  FIG. 15  to then call (step  202 ) the monitor ice controls routine  142  of  FIG. 13 , which routine  142 , it is noted, will start anew at its beginning step (step  148 ). 
     If, on the other hand, during the repeat loop  159  of the monitor normal dispense routine  147  of  FIG. 15  it is not first determined the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  is no longer deflected, i.e., has not be released and is still activated, (step  160 ), the repeat loop  159  continues to determine whether the quantity of ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  due to the dispensing of ice has likely been depleted to a level where there is imminent risk that the ice supply will be insufficient to continue the dispensing operation. In particular, the timeDispensing variable is calculated (step  161 ) as the length of time elapsed under the present dispensing operation and the sum of the calculated dispensing time and the cumulative augerRunTime variable is compared (step  162 ) to a REFILL_DELAY constant, which is a configured estimated or otherwise predetermined time over which dispensing may safely take place before it may be expected that ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  will likely be imminently depleted due to the ongoing dispensing of ice. If the calculated sum does not exceed the REFILL_DELAY constant, the repeat loop  159  continues. If, on the other hand, the calculated sum does exceed the REFILL_DELAY constant, the monitor normal dispense routine  157  escapes the repeat loop  159  and sets (step  163 ) the timeLastDispense variable to the then present time timeNow and immediately calls (step  164 ) the begin agitation function  165  of  FIG. 16  to activate the agitator assembly  91 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , upon starting (step  166 ) of the begin agitation function  165 , the begin agitation function  165  reinitializes (step  167 ) the needsAgitate variable to FALSE; reinitializes (step  168 ) the augerRunTime variable to ZERO; sets (step  169 ) the timeLastAgitate variable to the then present time; and then sends (step  170 ) a control signal to activate the electric motor  118  of the agitator assembly  91 , the details of implementation of such control signal being well within the ordinary skill in the art. The agitator assembly  91  will then begin operating, as previously discussed, to jostle the ice within the ice bin  69  and, in the course thereof, will replenish the ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124 . In any case, upon sending (step  170 ) of the control signal to activate the agitator assembly  91 , the begin agitation function  165  will then return (step  171 ) to the program flow location immediately following that from which the function  165  was called, which in the present case is back the monitor normal dispense routine  157  of  FIG. 15  to then call (step  172 ) the monitor replenishment routine  173  of  FIG. 17 , which serves to ensure that once agitation begins during a normal dispensing operation, ample time elapses to ensure that replenishment of the ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  is sufficient to either return to the monitor normal dispense routine  157  of  FIG. 15  or (as will be better understood further herein) to the monitor ice controls routine  142  of  FIG. 13 . 
     Turning then to  FIG. 17 , upon starting (step  174 ) of the monitor replenishment routine  173 , a repeat loop  175  is initiated under which it is determined (1) whether the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  continues to be deflected and, if so, (2) whether sufficient replenishment time has elapsed to return to the monitor normal dispense routine  157  of  FIG. 15 . In particular, if the monitor replenishment routine  173  determines that the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  remains deflected (step  176 ), the monitor replenishment routine  173  then determined (step  177 ) whether the elapsed time since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began, i.e. timeNow—timeLastAgitate, has exceeded a REFILL_TIME constant. In accordance with this exemplary implementation of the present invention, the REFILL_TIME constant is a configured expected “worst case” minimum agitation time required to replenish ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  to a “filled” level such that it may safely be expected that dispensing of ice may continue for a time period of at least the REFILL_DELAY time before it may again be expected that ice in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  will again likely be imminently depleted due to the ongoing dispensing of ice. If the elapsed time since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began has not exceeded the REFILL_TIME constant, the repeat loop  175  continues. 
     If, on the other hand, the elapsed time since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began has exceeded the REFILL_TIME constant, the repeat loop  175  escapes and the monitor replenishment routine  173  immediately calls (step  178 ) the end agitation function  179  of  FIG. 18 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , upon starting (step  180 ) of the end agitation function  179 , the end agitation function  179  simply sends (step  181 ) a control signal to deactivate the electric motor  118  of the agitator assembly  91 , the details of implementation of such control signal being well within the ordinary skill in the art. Upon sending (step  181 ) the control signal, the end agitation function  179  will then return (step  182 ) to the program flow location immediately following that from which the function  179  was called, which in the present case is back the monitor replenishment routine  173  of  FIG. 17  to then call (step  183 ) the monitor normal dispense routine  157  of  FIG. 15 , which routine  157 , it is noted, will start anew at its beginning step (step  158 ). 
     If, however, upon checking the status of the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  (step  176 ) in the course of its ongoing repeat loop  175 , the monitor replenishment routine  173  of  FIG. 17  determines that the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  no longer remains deflected, the repeat loop  175  escapes and the monitor replenishment routine  173  immediately calls (step  184 ) the end dispensing function  185  of  FIG. 19 , as has been previously described. Upon return from execution of the end dispensing function  185 , the monitor replenishment routine  173  then calls (step  191 ) the monitor complete replenishment routine  192  of  FIG. 20 . Under the monitor complete replenishment routine  173 , the agitator assembly  91  is allowed to continue to operate until sufficient time has elapsed since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began to ensure that the area in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  has been replenished with ice. Additionally, during completion of the replenishment operation, the monitor complete replenishment routine  173  monitors the status of the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  in order to respond to any additional user request for dispensing of ice. 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , upon starting (step  193 ) of the monitor complete replenishment routine  192 , a repeat loop  194  is initiated to determine (1) whether the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  195 ), indicating that a user again desires that ice be dispensed, or, if not, (2) whether sufficient replenishment time has elapsed to return to the monitor ice controls routine  142  of  FIG. 13  (step  198 ). If during the conduct of the repeat loop  194  the monitor complete replenishment routine  192  first determines that the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  195 ), the repeat loop  194  escapes and the monitor complete replenishment routine  192  immediately calls (step  196 ) the begin dispensing function  152  of  FIG. 14 , as has been previously described in detail, and, upon return from the begin dispensing function  152 , the monitor complete replenishment routine  192  then calls (step  197 ) the monitor replenishment routine  173  of  FIG. 17 , as has also been previously described in detail and which routine  173 , it is noted, will start anew at its beginning step (step  174 ). 
     If, on the other hand, during the conduct of the repeat loop  194  the monitor complete replenishment routine  192  of  FIG. 20  first determines that the elapsed time since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began, i.e. timeNow—timeLastAgitate, has exceeded the REFILL_TIME constant (step  198 ), indicating that the area in and about the auger trough  82  and auger conveyor  124  has been sufficiently replenished with ice, the repeat loop  194  escapes and the monitor complete replenishment routine  192  immediately calls (step  199 ) the end agitation function  179  of  FIG. 18 , as has been previously described in detail, and, upon return from the end agitation function  179 , the monitor complete replenishment routine  192  then calls (step  200 ) the monitor ice controls routine  142  of  FIG. 13 , as has also been previously described in detail and which routine  142 , it is noted, will start anew at its beginning step (step  148 ). 
     Returning finally then to the remainder of the description of the monitor ice controls routine  142  of  FIG. 13 , if thereunder it is determined that agitation of the ice within the ice bin  69  is required as a matter of the passage of time (step  203 ), the monitor ice controls routine  142  will escape its repeat loop  149  and operate to first call (step  204 ) the begin agitation function  165  of  FIG. 16 , thereby causing, as has previously been described in detail, activation of the agitator assembly  91 , and, upon return from the begin agitation function  165 , the monitor ice controls routine  142  will then operate to call (step  205 ) the monitor timed agitation routine  206  of  FIG. 21 , under which, the routine  206  will operate to monitor whether, during passage of the established time for agitation, the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  209 ), indicating that a user desires that ice be dispensed and, if so, ensures that the user&#39;s desire is immediately acted upon. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 21 , upon starting (step  207 ) of the monitor timed agitation routine  206 , a repeat loop  208  is initiated to determine (1) whether the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  209 ), indicating that a user desires that ice be dispensed, or (2) whether the configured time TIME_AGITATE (determined as a matter of design implementation as an estimate of the nominal agitation time required to prevent and/or alleviate any issues of ice blocking, clumping or the like and/or to ensure that ice flow from the upper compartment  79  of the ice bin  69  to the lower compartment  80  of the ice bin  69  is sufficiently facilitated) has elapsed since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began (step  221 ). In the present implementation, Applicant has found that approximately seven seconds is a suitable time for the TIME_AGITATE constant. 
     If during the conduct of the repeat loop  208  the monitor timed agitation routine  206  first determines that the elapsed time since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began exceeds the configured time TIME_AGITATE (step  221 ), the repeat loop  208  escapes and the monitor timed agitation routine  206  immediately calls (step  222 ) the end agitation function  179  of  FIG. 18 , as has been previously described in detail, and, upon return from the end agitation function  179 , the monitor timed agitation routine  206  then calls (step  223 ) the monitor ice controls routine  142  of  FIG. 13 , as has also been previously described in detail and which routine  142 , it is noted, will start anew at its beginning step (step  148 ). If, on the other hand, during the conduct of the repeat loop  208  the monitor timed agitation routine  206  first determines that the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  has been deflected (step  209 ), indicating that during the conduct of the agitation cycle in process a user also desires that ice be dispensed, the repeat loop  208  escapes and the monitor timed agitation routine  206  immediately calls (step  210 ) the begin dispensing function  152  of  FIG. 14 , as has been previously described in detail, and, upon return from the begin dispensing function  152 , the monitor timed agitation routine  206  then calls (step  211 ) the monitor dispense during agitation routine  212  of  FIG. 22 , during which the user&#39;s request for ice is immediately addressed while still monitoring the ongoing timed agitation to ensure, in generally the manner as previously discussed, sufficient agitation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 22 , upon starting (step  213 ) of the monitor dispense during agitation routine  212 , a repeat loop  214  is initiated to determine (1) whether the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  remains deflected (step  215 ) and (2) whether the elapsed time since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began exceeds the configured time TIME_AGITATE (step  216 ). If it is first determined that the lever arm  60  of the integral activator  58  is no longer deflected (step  215 ), the repeat loop  214  escapes and the monitor dispense during agitation routine  212  immediately calls (step  219 ) the end dispensing function  185  of  FIG. 19 , as has been previously described in detail, and, upon return from the end dispensing function  185 , the monitor dispense during agitation routine  212  then calls (step  220 ) the monitor timed agitation routine  206  of  FIG. 21 , as has been previously described in detail and which routine  206 , it is noted, will start anew at its beginning step (step  207 ) to continue monitoring the ongoing timed agitation. If, on the other hand, it is first determined that the elapsed time since the time at which the most previous activation of the agitator assembly  91  began exceeds the configured time TIME_AGITATE (step  216 ), indicating that agitation is no longer required merely as a matter of the passage of time, the repeat loop  214  escapes and the monitor dispense during agitation routine  212  immediately calls (step  217 ) the end agitation function  179  of  FIG. 18 , as has been previously described in detail, and, upon return from the end agitation function  179 , the monitor dispense during agitation routine  212  then calls (step  218 ) the monitor normal dispense routine  157  of  FIG. 15 , as has been previously described in detail and which routine  218 , it is noted, will start anew at its beginning step (step  158 ) to handle the ongoing dispensing of ice in the manner of the ordinary case where dispensing is called for without there being timed agitation in process. 
     While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and the claims drawn thereto. Additionally, because the methods of the present invention are largely automated once implemented, it is noted that except as otherwise heretofore set forth the manner of use of the integrated ice and beverage dispenser  30  or, alternatively, an ice only dispenser is as conventionally well in the art. In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.