Patent ID: 7059141

Claim:
A method of operating a combination icemaker and ice and beverage dispenser, wherein the icemaker includes a compressor, an evaporator having an ice piece forming panel on one side and a water chilling plate on an opposite side, and a sump is below the evaporator for containing water for circulation over the evaporator and for receiving water off of the evaporator during circulation thereof, and wherein the ice and beverage dispenser includes an ice retaining bin and a plurality of beverage dispensing valves coupled to the sump for receiving water therefrom, said method comprising the steps of selectively operating the ice maker to perform either an ice making cycle by circulating water from the sump over the ice piece forming panel of the evaporator while operating the compressor to freeze the water on the ice piece forming panel and subsequently hot gas harvesting the ice on the panel and delivering the harvested ice to the ice retaining bin, or to perform a water chilling cycle by circulating water from the sump over both the ice piece forming panel and the water chilling plate of the evaporator while operating the compressor to chill, but not freeze, the water on the panel and plate and thereby to chill the water in the sump and received by the beverage dispensing valves.