Patent US3717286A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3717286A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ice dispensing machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-23
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1990-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing machine for dispensing crushed ice, cubed ice, or the like. The dispensing machine includes a base portion and a plurality of removable stacked hoppers supported on the base portion for containing the ice and supplying it to the base portion. The base portion contains an exit opening for the ice and a conveyor belt for receiving the ice from the hoppers and moving it into said exit opening for the dispensing thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 E Crider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:52
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C5/00; F25C5/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
An ice dispensing machine comprising an endless conveyor belt for moving the ice horizontally, a roller-frame assembly sUpporting said conveyor belt, housing means for encasing said roller-frame assembly and said conveyor belt, at least one removable hopper means for containing a supply of ice and having an open bottom portion thereof so as to allow a gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said hopper means being provided with an upwardly directed opening for receiving the ice, gate means closing said open bottom portion of said hopper means, said gate means being operable from a closed position for preventing passage of ice therethrough to an open position thereby allowing the gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said housing means being provided with an upwardly directed socket means for removably receiving the lower end of said hopper means so that the ice passing through said open bottom of said hopper means is deposited on said conveyor means, exit means for dispensing said ice, said exit means having one end thereof adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor means, and drive means for driving the upper flight of said conveyor belt horizontally so that the ice received thereon is moved horizontally and discharged therefrom into said exit means; said hopper means including straight vertical back, front and side panels, and a downwardly and an inwardly sloped portion on the front of said hopper means and adjacent the lower edge thereof, and means defining opposing grooves adjacent the lower end thereof; and said gate means including a plate portion having the opposite side edges thereof received in said grooves and includes a sloping handle portion disposed adjacent said sloped portion of said hopper means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
278 words
An ice dispensing machine comprising an endless conveyor belt for moving the ice horizontally, a roller-frame assembly sUpporting said conveyor belt, housing means for encasing said roller-frame assembly and said conveyor belt, at least one removable hopper means for containing a supply of ice and having an open bottom portion thereof so as to allow a gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said hopper means being provided with an upwardly directed opening for receiving the ice, gate means closing said open bottom portion of said hopper means, said gate means being operable from a closed position for preventing passage of ice therethrough to an open position thereby allowing the gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said housing means being provided with an upwardly directed socket means for removably receiving the lower end of said hopper means so that the ice passing through said open bottom of said hopper means is deposited on said conveyor means, exit means for dispensing said ice, said exit means having one end thereof adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor means, and drive means for driving the upper flight of said conveyor belt horizontally so that the ice received thereon is moved horizontally and discharged therefrom into said exit means; said hopper means including straight vertical back, front and side panels, and a downwardly and an inwardly sloped portion on the front of said hopper means and adjacent the lower edge thereof, and means defining opposing grooves adjacent the lower end thereof; and said gate means including a plate portion having the opposite side edges thereof received in said grooves and includes a sloping handle portion disposed adjacent said sloped portion of said hopper means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
278 words
An ice dispensing machine comprising an endless conveyor belt for moving the ice horizontally, a roller-frame assembly sUpporting said conveyor belt, housing means for encasing said roller-frame assembly and said conveyor belt, at least one removable hopper means for containing a supply of ice and having an open bottom portion thereof so as to allow a gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said hopper means being provided with an upwardly directed opening for receiving the ice, gate means closing said open bottom portion of said hopper means, said gate means being operable from a closed position for preventing passage of ice therethrough to an open position thereby allowing the gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said housing means being provided with an upwardly directed socket means for removably receiving the lower end of said hopper means so that the ice passing through said open bottom of said hopper means is deposited on said conveyor means, exit means for dispensing said ice, said exit means having one end thereof adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor means, and drive means for driving the upper flight of said conveyor belt horizontally so that the ice received thereon is moved horizontally and discharged therefrom into said exit means; said hopper means including straight vertical back, front and side panels, and a downwardly and an inwardly sloped portion on the front of said hopper means and adjacent the lower edge thereof, and means defining opposing grooves adjacent the lower end thereof; and said gate means including a plate portion having the opposite side edges thereof received in said grooves and includes a sloping handle portion disposed adjacent said sloped portion of said hopper means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
278 words
An ice dispensing machine comprising an endless conveyor belt for moving the ice horizontally, a roller-frame assembly sUpporting said conveyor belt, housing means for encasing said roller-frame assembly and said conveyor belt, at least one removable hopper means for containing a supply of ice and having an open bottom portion thereof so as to allow a gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said hopper means being provided with an upwardly directed opening for receiving the ice, gate means closing said open bottom portion of said hopper means, said gate means being operable from a closed position for preventing passage of ice therethrough to an open position thereby allowing the gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said housing means being provided with an upwardly directed socket means for removably receiving the lower end of said hopper means so that the ice passing through said open bottom of said hopper means is deposited on said conveyor means, exit means for dispensing said ice, said exit means having one end thereof adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor means, and drive means for driving the upper flight of said conveyor belt horizontally so that the ice received thereon is moved horizontally and discharged therefrom into said exit means; said hopper means including straight vertical back, front and side panels, and a downwardly and an inwardly sloped portion on the front of said hopper means and adjacent the lower edge thereof, and means defining opposing grooves adjacent the lower end thereof; and said gate means including a plate portion having the opposite side edges thereof received in said grooves and includes a sloping handle portion disposed adjacent said sloped portion of said hopper means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
229 words
An ice dispensing machine comprising an endless conveyor belt for horizontally moving the ice, a roller-frame assembly supporting said conveyor belt, housing means for encasing said roller-frame assembly and said conveyor belt, a plurality of stacked hopper means for containing a supply of ice, each of said hopper means having an upwardly opening mouth-like upper end and a downwardly opening lower end adapted to fit into the upper end of the subjacent one of said hopper means for allowing gravitational passage of ice therethrough, a plurality of removable gate means respectively closing the openings in said lower ends of said hopper means, each of said gate means being operable from a closed position for preventing passage of ice therethrough to an open position thereby allowing the gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said housing means being provided with an upwardly directed socket means for removably receiving the lower end of the lowermost one of said hopper means so that the ice passing through the open bottom of the lowermost one of said hopper means is deposited on the conveyor means, exit means for dispensing the ice, said exit means having one end thereof adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor means, and drive means for driving the upper flight of said conveyor belt horizontally so that the ice received thereon is moved horizontally and discharged therefrom into said exit means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
229 words
An ice dispensing machine comprising an endless conveyor belt for horizontally moving the ice, a roller-frame assembly supporting said conveyor belt, housing means for encasing said roller-frame assembly and said conveyor belt, a plurality of stacked hopper means for containing a supply of ice, each of said hopper means having an upwardly opening mouth-like upper end and a downwardly opening lower end adapted to fit into the upper end of the subjacent one of said hopper means for allowing gravitational passage of ice therethrough, a plurality of removable gate means respectively closing the openings in said lower ends of said hopper means, each of said gate means being operable from a closed position for preventing passage of ice therethrough to an open position thereby allowing the gravitational passage of ice therethrough, said housing means being provided with an upwardly directed socket means for removably receiving the lower end of the lowermost one of said hopper means so that the ice passing through the open bottom of the lowermost one of said hopper means is deposited on the conveyor means, exit means for dispensing the ice, said exit means having one end thereof adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor means, and drive means for driving the upper flight of said conveyor belt horizontally so that the ice received thereon is moved horizontally and discharged therefrom into said exit means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein each of said hopper means includes straight vertical front, back and side panels, and a downwardly and inwardly sloped portion on one of said panels adjacent the lower end thereof, and means defining opposing grooves adjacent the lower end of said hopper; and wherein each of said gate means includes a plate portion having the opposite side edges thereof received in said grooves and includes a sloping handle portion disposed adjacent said sloped portion of said hopper means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The machine of claim 6 in which is included picket means disposed above said conveyor belt adjacent said exit means for breaking up the ice.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2326414A
Cited
US2584750A
Cited
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Cited
US3246481A
Cited
US3444986A
Cited
US3602400A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |