Patent ID: 8245488

Claim:
A method of delivering ice pieces to a consumer which comprises: providing a holding zone capable of housing a quantity of ice pieces received from an operatively associated ice supply; providing a container filling zone that receives ice pieces from the holding zone and deposits a pre-selected amount of ice pieces in a container; moving ice pieces housed within the holding zone toward and through an aperture thereof to the container filling zone; and inhibiting or preventing the buildup of ice formations in the holding zone and container filling zone so as to facilitate transfer of ice pieces from the holding zone to and through the aperture thereof and to and through the container filling zone, wherein the inhibiting or preventing comprises distributing the ice pieces in one direction and then a second, different direction towards the aperture and wherein the inhibiting or preventing comprises activating an ice leveler that is at the top portion of the holding zone and reciprocates in a linear manner from one end of the holding zone toward another end to distribute ice pieces in the holding zone adjacent the ice supply towards the aperture.