Patent ID: 8863992

Claim:
An ice portion control module comprising: an ice bin for storing ice; a base in said ice bin having: a plurality of portion control compartments, each of said plurality of portion control compartments having an interior volume to hold a predetermined portion of said ice and a sidewall connected to a first plate; and a plurality of magnets, each magnet associated with one of said plurality of portion control compartments and disposed in an opening in said first plate; and an actuator which moves said plurality of portion control compartments between a fill position wherein said plurality of portion control compartments holds said ice, and a dispense position wherein said predetermined portion of said ice is dispensed out of one of said plurality of portion control compartments, wherein each of said magnets moves as its associated portion control compartment is moved by said actuator; and a sensor disposed outside of said ice bin that detects the movement of said plurality of magnets.