Patent ID: 8365951

Claim:
An ice dispensing system comprising: a rotatable barrel comprising a generally hollow cylindrical body portion having substantially closed front and rear ends and an opening positioned on the cylindrical body portion between the front and rear ends; at least one projection extending from an interior surface of the cylindrical body portion positioned near the opening to aid in directing the ice and capturing a regulated amount of the ice during rotation between the first and second position; an input chute having a first end coupled to and in fluid communication with an ice making machine and a second end in fluid communication with the opening in the barrel when the barrel is in a first position; an output chute in fluid communication with the opening of the barrel when the barrel is in a second position; a containment system to prevent ice from exiting the opening while the barrel rotates from the first position to the second position, comprising a flexible piece of material held in contact with the exterior of the barrel by at least one tensioning spring, wherein the containment system has a first end coupled to the input chute and a second end coupled to the output chute; a drive system coupled to the barrel for rotating the barrel between the first position and the second position, wherein the opening has a geometry and size that directs ice within the barrel and dispenses the regulated amount of ice into the output chute when the barrel reaches the second position.