Patent ID: 8534034

Claim:
A method of distributing bagged ice made by serial production into two or more adjacent storage units, comprising: distributing a bag of ice from bagged ice dispenser onto a first article carrier of a bagged ice transport and distribution assembly positioned in a start position above a first refrigerated storage area within a main storage unit; selecting a storage unit for receiving the bag of ice from the main storage unit and one or more satellite storage units; when the selected storage unit is the main storage unit, discharging the bag of ice from the first article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly into the storage area of the main storage unit; when the selected storage unit is a satellite storage unit, moving the first article carrier from the start position to a connecting window, which extends between the main storage unit and the satellite storage unit, driving the bag of ice from the main storage unit to the satellite storage unit through the connecting window, and onto a second article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly above a second refrigerated storage area of the satellite storage unit and discharging the bag of ice in the second storage area; receiving a subsequent bag of ice from the bagged ice dispenser onto the first article carrier of the transport and distribution assembly in the start position above the first refrigerated storage area; and repeating the foregoing steps to distribute a plurality of bags of ice one by one into the storage areas of the main and satellite storage units.