Ice dispensing and metering system and methods

US8881952B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• K-TEC, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Thomas D. Dickson, Jr. · San Jose, US
• Sterling Kingdon · Cedar Hills, US
• Mark McLane · Lehi, US
• David J. Throckmorton · Mapleton, US
• Kory B. Robins · Draper, US
• W. Reid Stout · Lehi, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 11, 2010
• Grant date: Nov 11, 2014
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01F11/24
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An ice dispensing assembly includes a hopper, a metering disk, a shelf member, and a separating wall. The hopper includes an outlet opening defined in a bottom end of the hopper, and an ice inlet defined in a top end of the hopper. The metering disk is positioned in the hopper and includes a plurality of cavities. The shelf member is arranged to at least partially shield the cavities from a supply of ice held in the hopper. The metering disk is rotatable relative to the hopper between a first position wherein at least one cavity is exposed to the supply of ice to be filled with ice, and a second position wherein the cavity is separated from the supply of ice by the separating wall and ice in the cavity is dispensed through the outlet opening.