Patent Publication Number: US-9885511-B2

Title: Dispenser device for ice and water, components thereof and process of cleaning same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/544,565, filed Aug. 20, 2009. 
    
    
     THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is a low profile ice maker/dispenser and water dispenser that has a high ice making capacity, particularly for nugget type ice manufacture, wherein the dispensing of ice nuggets is metered and which limits ice size prior to ice reaching the dispenser discharge outlet or spout in a thin stream of ice, for dispensing of the ice nuggets into a cup or other container in which it is to be received, rather than being dispensed in an array that could fall outside the cup or other container. 
     The ice is formed in a refrigeration cycle, and uses an evaporator as part of that cycle. A jacket for the evaporator comprises a novel jacket of reinforced thermoset plastic material that preferably is part of a water reservoir and the jacket is sufficiently dense and free of pores of a sufficient size that pressurized refrigerant gas cannot pass through it, so that the jacket contains the pressurized refrigerant gas. Additionally, the material of construction of the jacket does not change significantly, dimensionally, in use. 
     In the device of this invention, ice nuggets are delivered into a storage bin via an ice nugget delivery conduit from an ice maker. 
     In order to handle melt water from the ice storage bin, a drain line exists between the ice storage bin and a water reservoir which feeds the ice maker. A vent line also exists between the ice storage bin and water reservoir, with the storage bin, ice maker, ice nugget delivery conduit, water drain line and vent line comprising a closed system, whereby bin melt water can be recycled into ice nuggets. 
     The ice nugget delivery conduit has an internal diameter that is substantially close to, or just slightly greater than the diameter of the ice nuggets, and the ice nugget delivery conduit enters the ice bin from the side thereof near the upper end of the ice bin, and through an arcuate portion of the conduit, such that ice traversing the arcuate portion is broken up into individual ice nuggets. 
     The ice maker/dispenser, being a closed system between the water reservoir that feeds the ice maker, the ice maker itself, the storage bin, the ice nugget delivery conduit, the bin drain line and the vent line, enables a cleaning procedure by which a cleaning and/or sanitizing solution may be introduced into the closed system for cleaning and/or sanitizing, held therein for a predetermined period of time, and then drained therefrom, without requiring disassembly and manual cleaning of the various components. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ice makers/dispensers are commercially available for home and office use. 
     Typically, residential refrigerators include ice making/dispensing features. These are capable of making small amounts of ice over a period of time, with limited storage capability. Such refrigerators are not adaptable for a larger office having greater ice production needs and greater storage needs. 
     Particularly, in an office environment, the size constraints limit the adaptability of refrigerator systems as they are conventionally known to satisfy office and commercial needs. 
     Additionally, typical ice dispensers are not also adapted to dispense water, especially in units that are of sufficiently small size to meet the size constraints of an office or commercial establishment while still producing a desirable amount of production of ice. 
     Additionally, where ice is to be dispensed from storage bins, it has been known to use augers in storage bins. However, augers that deliver ice to the discharge from the storage bins can surge in flow, resulting in overfilling of the user&#39;s cup or other container, often discharging excessive amounts of ice into the cup, or in an array around the cup, possibly landing on a drip tray and melting, leaving water around the vicinity of the ice maker. 
     In ice making systems in accordance with the prior art, it is known to use evaporators for making ice, including evaporators with inner and outer cylinders between which the refrigerant flows. Such systems are available for example, as are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,322,201, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     Additionally, conventional ice makers/dispensers typically require an open drain, to allow for removal of melt water from their ice storage bin, and to allow mineral laden water to be periodically drained from the evaporator portion of the ice making system, both of which can require interruption of the ice maker/dispenser use, to manually clean the components that comprise the system. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to providing a low profile ice and water dispenser device for home and/or office use, capable of fitting in a vertical opening on top of a countertop and beneath a typically spaced overhanging cabinet, wherein the ice maker/dispenser is efficiently constructed to be of a limited necessary height. 
     OBJECTS 
     It is an object to provide the above invention, wherein the device utilizes a cylindrical freezing chamber and rotatable auger. 
     It is a further object of this invention wherein ice is delivered from the ice maker into an ice storage bin it enters the storage bin from the side, thereby avoiding adding additional height to the unit such as would be necessary if the conduit delivered ice into the bin from above. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide an ice storage bin having a melt water delivery line between the storage bin and a water reservoir that feeds the ice maker, that is gravity-flow operated. 
     It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above objects, wherein a tray is provided for receiving a cup or other container, for receiving ice and/or water, and wherein the operation of the unit will be discontinued when water build-up in the tray reaches a predetermined level. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to accomplish the delivery of ice from a lower end of an ice nugget bin to an upper end thereof, by means of an auger, and wherein an ice baffle is provided at the upper end of the ice bin, near the ice nugget discharge outlet which meters the ice, to prevent to high a rate of flow of ice through the outlet, and which severs ice nuggets of too great a size and allows ice nuggets of a predetermined desired size to pass from the bin via the ice nugget discharge outlet. 
     It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein the conduit that carries ice nuggets from the ice maker to the bin is configured to break up ice nuggets to a desired size prior to their entering the bin. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for making and containing ice nuggets and delivering them to a bin, wherein a water drain line between the ice nugget bin and a water reservoir that provides water for the ice maker recirculates the melt water back into the water reservoir. 
     It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above objects wherein the ice nugget bin, water reservoir, water drain line, ice nugget delivery conduit and vent line are part of a closed system that, except for the ice dispenser outlet, is sealed closed to atmosphere until it is desired to add additional water to the water reservoir when the water level in the reservoir becomes low. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a refrigeration system for making ice nuggets, wherein a refrigeration cycle is employed, having an evaporator jacket that is comprised of a plastic material that prevents passage of gaseous refrigeration fluid from the evaporator, through the wall of the jacket. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a method of cleaning an ice maker/dispenser device in which the components of the system that contain ice and/or water are substantially closed against atmosphere and can be cleaned by introducing a cleaning and/or sanitizing solution into the otherwise closed system once the ice dispenser outlet is closed off for a predetermined period of time prior to draining the solution therefrom. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent upon a reading of the following brief descriptions of the drawing figures, the detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a combination ice and water dispenser device in accordance with this invention, illustrated disposed on top of a countertop and beneath an overhanging cabinet, both countertop and cabinet of which are fragmentally illustrated. 
         FIG. 2  is a top, front and left side perspective view of the ice and water dispenser device in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the various components of the refrigeration system for making ice nuggets and delivering the same to a storage bin for dispensing into a cup or other container disposed on a drip tray, and for supplying water also to a cup disposed on a drip tray, which schematic also shows various details and control embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a vertical sectional view, through the ice maker, its water reservoir and gear motor drive, in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a fragmentally transverse sectional view of a portion of the water reservoir of  FIG. 4 , taken along the line of IV A-IV A of  FIG. 4 , and wherein conductivity rods are illustrated present in water in the water reservoir, for providing a control feature thereto. 
         FIG. 5  is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the water reservoir and ice maker of this invention, generally along the line V-V of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective front, top and right side view of an ice storage bin in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a fragmentally vertical sectional view, through the ice nugget delivery conduit that delivers ice nuggets to the bin, taken generally along the line VI A-VI A of  FIG. 6 , and wherein the arcuate configuration thereof serves to break up ice into ice nuggets of a desired size. 
         FIG. 7  is a vertical sectional view, taken through an ice storage bin in accordance with this invention, and wherein the auger for delivering ice nuggets from a lower end of the bin to an upper end of the bin, to engage a baffle at the upper end of the bin or to pass beneath the baffle out through the ice discharge outlet is made possible, by the location of the baffle. 
         FIG. 7A  is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of a portion of the ice storage bin of  FIG. 7 , taken generally along the line VII A-VII A of  FIG. 7 , wherein ice nuggets delivered by the auger into the area in which the baffle is located are illustrated. 
         FIG. 8  is a top and front perspective exploded view of the drip tray in accordance with this invention, with a drain panel being shown above a drain water retention tray is illustrated, and with an optional drain line from the tray being shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 8A  is an unexploded transverse vertical sectional view, taken through the drain tray of  FIG. 8 , wherein conductivity strips are illustrated above the water level in the tray. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the low profile ice maker/dispenser and water dispenser of this invention is generally designated by the numeral  10 , disposed on a countertop  11  that, in turn, is provided with, and supported by a lower cabinet  12 , above which is generally disposed an upper cabinet  13 . The lower and upper cabinets may be provided with doors  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17 , as shown that, in turn, may carry handles  18 ,  20 ,  21  and  22  for opening the doors, as may be desired. The doors may be hingedly mounted on the cabinet structures  12 ,  13 . 
     The dispenser device  10  is shown to have a sufficiently low profile that it is preferably no more than 18 inches in height, to fit between the countertop  11  and the upper cabinet  13 , within a distance D1, as shown, which distance D1 may be between 18 and 20 inches. 
     The dispenser device  10  of this invention is adapted to provide sufficient ice making and ice storage capacity for an office setting, or a high end residential market. For example, a 50 person office can be served successfully by an ice maker/dispenser that produces more than 4 and preferably about 4 to 5 pounds of ice per hour, and storing greater than 7 and preferably 7 to 8 pounds of ice in its internal storage bin. 
     Additionally, the dispenser device should be able to accommodate cups or other containers that are about 8 inches or more high, such that discharge outlets for ice and water must be at a sufficient height to accommodate such cups or containers therebeneath. 
     Additionally, it is desirable that the dispenser device not be excessively wide, to accommodate most office situations. To this end, the dispenser device  10 , between its right and left sides  23 ,  24 , should be about 15 inches in width. 
     In the dispenser device  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the water discharge outlet is illustrated at  25 , and the ice discharge outlet is illustrated at  26 . Respective actuators  27 ,  28  are illustrated, for being contacted by the hand of a user, for actuating the discharge of water and ice, via water and ice outlets  25 ,  26 . 
     A tray  30  is illustrated at the lower end of the dispenser device  10 , for accommodating a cup or other container thereon, with the tray being adapted to receive and hold overflow water and/or ice therein. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , it will be seen that the tray  30  is provided with a perforate grate  31  at its upper end, upon which a cup or other container would be placed to receive water and/or ice dispensed therein. The dispenser  10  in  FIG. 2  is illustrated as having an electrical connection  32  for connection to an electrical outlet for supplying power to the dispenser device  10 . Vents  33  are illustrated in the left wall  24  of the dispenser device  10 , for accommodating the dissipation of heat generated by a refrigeration cycle that exists inside the dispenser device  10 , especially from a condenser unit contained therein. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , the functional characteristics of the ice and water dispenser device will now be discussed. 
     At the lower right portion of the schematic of  FIG. 3 , a refrigeration cycle is generally indicated at  40 , as including a compressor  41 , for compressing a refrigerant vapor, such as Freon or the like, which is delivered via a refrigerant line  42  to a condenser  43 , where heat is dissipated from the condenser, and with the refrigerant fluid then passing via refrigerant line  44  to and through an expansion device  45 , where it is changed into a gaseous state for delivery to an evaporator  46  via a refrigerant line  47 . The evaporator  46  has an inner cylindrical wall  48  that comprises the evaporator body, along with a generally spiral flight  50  carried by the metal, preferably steel evaporator body  48 , on the outer diameter of the evaporator body  48 , with the spiral flight creating a canal along which the refrigerant flows from the refrigerant inlet line  47  to the refrigerant vapor line  51  at the outlet of the evaporator  46 , for return of refrigerant vapor back to the compressor  41 . 
     The cylindrical jacket  52  for the evaporator  46  is comprised of a preferably plastic material that will be discussed further herein, that is a component of a water reservoir  53  that will likewise be discussed in greater detail hereafter. At right and left ends of the evaporator  46 , suitable sealing means are provided, such as O-rings (not shown), for sealing the refrigerant flowing in the canal provided by the helical flight, to prevent leakage of refrigerant fluid from the evaporator at right and left ends. 
     A suitable fan  54  will preferably be provided, motor driven at  55  from a suitable electrical source  56 , for facilitating the dissipation of heat from the condenser  43 . 
     An auger  60  is located inside the evaporator  46 , being shaft mounted at  61  on its right end as shown in  FIG. 3 , and being driven by a gearmotor  62  at its left end as shown, for rotatingly driving the auger shaft  63 . The gearmotor  62  is suitably driven by electric power from wires  64 , as shown. 
     During rotation of the auger  60 , water provided from the water reservoir  53 , via an opening at the right end of the evaporator, as shown, enters the freezing zone  66 , to form as ice on the wall  67  of the evaporator, to be scraped therefrom by the auger  60 , and delivered leftward along the auger, to be compacted as an elongate cylinder of ice as ice leaves the left end  68  of the evaporator body in the direction of arrow  70  into an ice conduit  71  for delivery as individual ice nuggets  72  into an ice bin  73 . 
     In the ice bin  73  a wire screw type auger  74  is disposed, at an acute angle, as illustrated, and is motor driven via a motor  75  suitably electrically connected at  76  for driving a shaft  77  that drives the wire auger  74 . 
     Ice nuggets  72  that have accumulated at the lower end of the bin (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) are thus delivered via the wire auger  72  from a lower end of the bin, to an upper end of the bin, where they are metered via an ice nugget baffle  78  that will later be discussed herein, to a location  80  from where they can be discharged through the ice nugget discharge outlet  26 , upon a user actuating the discharge of ice nuggets therethrough via engagement with the actuator  28 , whereby discharged ice nuggets  81  may fall into a cup or other container  82  therebeneath. It will be understood that the actuator  28  can, by any mechanical or electrical means (not shown) cause ice to flow through the discharge chute  83 , for discharge of ice  81  through the outlet  26 . 
     If desired, the flow of ice via line  71  into the bin  73  may be interrupted in the event that the bin  73  becomes full of ice, by having a suitable ice fill controller  84  disposed in the line  71 , which can be electrically connected via line  120  to compressor  41  to shut down the compressor  41 , and at  89  to the gearmotor  62  to discontinue operation of the gearmotor  62  that drives the ice scraping auger  60 , until some of the ice nuggets  72  are emptied from the bin  73 , in which case, the controller  84  can re-open the line  71  and re-actuate the gearmotor  62  and compressor  41 , to resume filling the bin  73  with ice nuggets. The controller  84  can, if desired, operate to sense axial strain in the conduit  71  as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,469,548, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     In the event that ice nuggets in the bin  73  begin to melt, and melt water is present at the lower end of the bin  73 , such melt water can drain by entering a water drain line  86 , to pass into the water reservoir  53  via the drain line  86 , by means of gravity flow thereto, in the direction of arrow  87 . 
     A vent line  88  exists between the ice storage bin  73  and the water reservoir  53 , as shown, in that, as will later be discussed herein, the ice storage bin  73 , the water reservoir  53 , the zone  66  for ice formation within the evaporator  46 , the drain line  86 , and the ice delivery conduit  71  comprise a closed system (except for the ice dispenser outlet  26 ), sealed closed to atmosphere, remaining clean and uncontaminated from ambient influences. 
     Water is delivered to the dispenser device  10  from a house or office water supply line  90 , through a valve  91  that controls water flow, through an optional ultraviolet treatment station  92  where ultraviolet light can neutralize any bacteria in the water, with the water then passing via water line  93  to an optional filter  94 , to a water delivery line  95 , then to the water discharge outlet  25 , controlled by the water discharge actuator  27 , in much the same manner as has been discussed above with respect to the ice discharge actuator  28 , for delivery of water to a cup or other container  96  disposed on the tray  30 . 
     Inlet water is also thereby delivered via line  97  to the water reservoir  53 , via a valve  98  that is controlled by means of a float  100  operated in accordance with the water level within the water reservoir  53 , to allow more water to enter the reservoir  53  via control device  101  that opens and closes the valve  98 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , it will be seen that the cups  82  and  96  are at a height D2, which is generally 8 inches, such that the ice and water outlets  26 ,  25  must be at a distance above the upper surface of the tray  30 , that is greater than D2, to allow for discharge of ice nuggets  82  out of the ice nugget discharge outlet  26 , into a cup  82 , and to allow for discharge of water from the water discharge outlet  25 , likewise into a cup  96 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , enhanced details of construction of the water reservoir  53 , evaporator  46  and the ice maker that comprises the metal inner cylindrical wall  67  of the evaporator, as well as the details of construction of the auger  60  with its generally helical flight are shown, whereby water W in the water reservoir  53  can enter into the ice making zone  66  of the evaporator, from the right end thereof, as shown by the arrow  65 , allowing the rotating auger  60  to scrape ice being formed inside the cold cylindrical wall  67  of the evaporator, with the auger  60  moving the ice from right to left in the illustration of  FIG. 4 , into zone  68 , wherein it is compacted and moved upwardly via the ice nugget delivery conduit  71 , to the bin  73 . 
     The water reservoir  53  and the outer wall  52  of the evaporator are constructed of a non-metallic material, preferably a thermoset plastic, molded as a single unit, or in components that are then fused together, and are preferably fiber-reinforced, and of a preferably polyester material reinforced with glass and/or minerals, that is sufficiently dense and non-porous that it prevents the passage of gaseous refrigerant fluid through the thermoset plastic, most especially for that portion of the thermoset plastic that comprises the evaporator jacket. The material of the evaporator jacket, once molded, is dimensionally stable, allowing for essentially no dimensional creep. Such material resists the attachment of chemical cleaners thereto, and has good mechanical strength for pressure containment of the gaseous refrigerant for which it provides the outer jacket of the evaporator. 
     The gearmotor  62  drives the shaft  63  that, in turn, rotates the auger  60 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4A , it will be seen that conductivity rods or probes  105 ,  106  and  107  are carried by insulators  108 ,  110  and  111 , respectively, which insulators are mounted in a top  112  of the water reservoir  53 , which top  112  is secured to the reservoir  53  by means of an O-ring  113 . 
     While the float  100  illustrated in  FIG. 3  inside the water reservoir  53  controls the inflow of water to the water reservoir  53  via water supply line  97 , the control rods illustrated in  FIG. 4A  with their electric connections  114 ,  116  and  118 , respectively lend themselves to various other types of control. For example, the control rods can detect a high level of water in the reservoir  53 , between the conductivity probe  107  and the common conductivity probe  106 , when water reaches a predetermined height in the reservoir, for shutting down one or more components of the system, or, for example, for restarting the compressor  41 , after a period of shutdown of the refrigeration cycle or for starting the ice making operation when the water level in the reservoir is above a predetermined level due to melt water from the ice storage bin entering the reservoir. Conversely, the electrical connection through the water W in the reservoir  53 , that is made between the common conductivity probe  106 , and the low water conductivity probe  105  may be used to shut down the compressor  41  via its electrical connection line  120  to a controller  121  associated with the compressor  41 , or, alternatively such electrical connection between the probes  105  and  106  or between the probes  106  and  107  can control the operation of the gearmotor  62  that drives the auger  60 , via electric line  85 , or to control the delivery of ice from the conduit line  71  to the bin  73  by operating full ice bin controller  84  to discontinue ice delivery. 
     At the right end of the water reservoir  53 , near the bottom thereof, there is a water discharge line  49 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with the water discharge line  49  having a discharge valve  59  manually operable, for draining water from the system for cleaning and/or sanitizing the otherwise closed system, as will be discussed hereinafter. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the ice bin  73  is illustrated as having a lid  125  sealing closed the upper end of the ice bin  73  by means of a gasket  126  or similar seal. 
     Also, in the lid  125  there is a removable access cap  127 , that is normally sealingly closed therein, but which can be removed when the ice bin  73  is to receive a cleaning and/or sanitizing solution, as will hereinafter be described, and then that removable cap  127  can be inverted and used to seal close the ice nugget discharge outlet  26 , as is shown in phantom at the lower left side of the illustration of  FIG. 6 . 
     As is illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the ice storage bin  73  has a sloped bottom wall  128 , inside which is present the wire auger  74 , driven by means of the motor  75 , via shaft  77 , for conveying ice nuggets that are present in the bin  73 , from a lower end of the bin, to an upper end of the bin, at the left upper side of the bin as is shown in  FIG. 7 . Nuggets are thus delivered, upwardly, in the direction of the arrow  130  shown in  FIG. 7 , to enter the zone  80  to pass into the nugget discharge outlet  26  when triggered by actuation of the nugget discharge actuator  28  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 7 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 6A , it will be seen that the ice nugget delivery conduit  71  has an arcuate bend  130  therein, whereby a column of compressed, flaked ice  131  is supplied thereto from the compression zone  68  therefor illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and that when the column  131  of ice traverses the arcuate bend  130  in the delivery line  71  the forcing of the column of ice  131  around the arcuate bend  130  causes it to break at various locations  132 , into individual nuggets, which are delivered into the bin  73 , through a side entry location  133  into the interior of the bin, through the control  84  described previously. Thus, it will be seen that the entry of nuggets into the bin  73  from a side location in the bin, near the top cover  125  thereof, precludes the entry of nuggets into the bin  73  from requiring additional bin height. 
     In  FIG. 6A , it will be noted that the inside diameter of the conduit  71  has a diameter D3 as shown, that closely matches the diameter of the nuggets being produced, so that a simple, gentle bend  130  in the conduit causes the column  131  of compressed, flaked ice to become cracked to desirable lengths, as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 7 and 7A , it will be seen that near the upper end of the ice bin  73 , there is provided a baffle  135  carried by the top or lid  125  of the bin  73 , with the baffle  135  extending downwardly into the interior of the bin. The baffle  135  is thus generally vertical, and is disposed adjacent to, but not directly above the ice discharge spout or outlet  26 . 
     In  FIG. 7 , there is shown as a phantom line, the theoretical outside diameter  137  of the auger, and it will be seen that the baffle protrudes into that diameter, toward a central axis  140  of the auger  74  that is at an acute angle to the horizontal of 30°. It will also be noted that the lower edge  138  of the baffle as shown in  FIG. 7  does not interfere with rotation of the auger  74  and that the angle of the auger axis causes the helix of the auger to pass in front of, or to the left of the baffle  135  in its lowermost position of the auger  74 , while still being above the discharge outlet  26 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7A , it will be seen that ice nuggets  142  are blocked by the lower right face  143  of the baffle to block ice nuggets on the right side of the baffle as shown in  FIG. 7A , metering the flow of ice to the discharge  26 , in that, such ice nuggets  142  delivered to the right of the baffle as shown in  FIG. 7  will tend to rise up on the face  143  of the baffle, to be recirculated and fall back toward the lower end of the bin, whereas ice nuggets  148  that pass below the baffle are able to enter the zone  80  above the outlet  26 . This allows the flow rate of ice to remain fairly constant until the general ice level in the bin  73  drops well below the auger fill level, which is typically when the bin is about 75% empty. 
     Thus, it will be seen that the baffle blocks ice from entering the space  144  to the left of the baffle  135  as viewed in  FIG. 7 . This arrangement of and function of the baffle eliminates the necessity of making the ice outlet or spout  26  much larger in order to handle the desired volume, leaving the opening of the discharge outlet or spout  26  to be relatively small, that enables ice to be focused into the user&#39;s cup  82 , rather than spilling out around the cup  82 . 
     It will be noted that larger nuggets  145  of ice can engage the edge  146  of the baffle  135  as the nuggets  145  are being urged thereagainst by the upper end of the auger  74  rotating in a counter clockwise direction as shown by the arrow  147 , such that such larger nuggets  145  will be sheared into smaller sized nuggets, to be of a desirable size at  148  to pass through the outlet or spout  26  upon discharge. 
     The present invention thus allows the wire type auger and baffle to cooperate to enable a continuous stream of ice to be delivered via the outlet or spout  26 , without surges. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 8 and 8A , the drain  30  is illustrated in greater detail, as including an upper grate  155  adapted to be carried at the upper end  156  of the tray  30 . 
     The grate  155  is provided with a number of slots or other openings  157  therein to allow water that may overflow from a cup  96 , or ice that may not fall into a cup  82  when water or ice are being dispensed, such that the water, or water from ice melt can pass through the openings  157  in the grate, and accumulate on the inside  158  of the tray  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8A , it will be seen that water W′ accumulating on the inside  158  of the tray  30  may build up to a given level, at which it may contact conductivity rods or strips  161  carried at the upper end of the inside  158  of the tray  30 , completing an electrical connection between the rods  160  and  161 , such that electric wiring or the like  162 , powered by an electric source  163 , may cause the water outlet actuator  27  to close off the water discharge outlet  25 . Optionally, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the electric line  162  may, via electric line  164 , shown in phantom, shut down the motor  75  that drives the auger  74  inside the ice bin  73 . Further, optionally, the electric line  162  may close the water inlet valve  91 , via control line  165 , shown in phantom. 
     Also, in the event that a leak should occur anywhere in the system, sensors located throughout the system will automatically close the water inlet valve  91 . 
     Additionally, if desired, when the circuit for the conductivity rods  160 ,  161  is completed, such may activate a liquid crystal display or the like  166 , shown in  FIG. 2 , via a suitable electric line (not shown), which display may light up with a legend such as “TRAY FULL”. 
     While the tray illustrated in  FIG. 8  is adapted to be used free of any water discharge line, such that it can periodically be manually emptied, a further option for the tray  30  exists in providing a discharge line  167  from the lower end of the tray, such as that shown in phantom in  FIG. 8 , which discharge line  167  can deliver water from the tray  30  to a drain or a collection container or the like, as may be desired. 
     The Cleaning/Sanitizing Operation 
     As has been mentioned above, the ice/water system of this invention is a closed system, to guard against bacteria or other undesirable components entering into the system. 
     When it is desired to clean the system, such will preferably be done when the level of water W in the water reservoir  53  is substantially empty. Then, the water control valve  91  and/or actuator  27  can be shut off, as will the water delivery from line  97  be shut off by closing the valve  98 , and the valve  59  for emptying the water reservoir  53  via its discharge line  49  will be closed, after all the water is drained from the closed system. 
     Then, upon removal of the cap  127  at the top of the bin  73 , the cleaning and/or sanitizing solution can be added to the bin  73 , which will fill the bin, the drain line  86 , the water reservoir  53 , the ice making zone  66 , and the ice conduit  71 , all after the cap  127  has been removed from the top  125  of the bin  73 , and re-located beneath the ice discharge outlet, as shown in phantom at  127  in  FIG. 6 . In this condition, the ice maker, water reservoir, ice storage bin, ice delivery conduit line and melt water drain line, normally sealed closed to atmosphere, can now received the solution and be cleaned and/or sanitized. 
     If desired, during the cleaning operation, the motor  62  may be used to drive the auger  60  inside the evaporator, and/or, the motor  75  may drive the auger  74  in the ice storage bin  73 , to provide some agitation of the cleaning/sanitizing solution within the system. 
     After a pre-determined cleaning time, the valve  59  in the discharge line  49  from the water reservoir  53  can be opened, and the cleaning solution can be discharged into a drain or container, as may be desired. 
     Thereafter, the cap  127  can be removed from its position closing off the ice discharge outlet  26 , and returned to close the opening in the top  125  of the bin cover, and various water inlets to the system can be resumed, once the sanitizing cleaning solution and/or any desired rinsing of the system has been completed, with the valve  59  thereafter being closed, and operation of the ice and water dispensing system can resume. 
     It will thus be seen that the present invention allows for cleaning and/or sanitizing the system, without requiring disassembly of the various components of the system and without requiring manual cleaning of the various components of the system. 
     It will be apparent from the foregoing that various modifications may be made in the details of construction, as well as in the use and operation of the various components of this invention, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.