Ice shaving machine with stabilization means

• US 4,655,403 A
• Filed: 04/08/1985
• Issued: 04/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald R. Sciortino
• Original Assignee: Ronald R. Sciortino
• Inventors: Sciortino, Ronald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, Howard N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorski, Joseph M.
• Application Number:
  US06/720,598
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 241/278 R, 241/280, 241/282, 241/DIG. 17, 241/281, 241/285 R, 241/296, 241/285 A, 241/92
• US Class Current: 241/92
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/12 Ice-shaving machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/17 Ice crushers

Abstract

The invention relates to ice cutting machines, and specifically to the ice cutting machines for producing ice shavings for flavored confections such as snow cones and snowballs. The ice cutting machine of the present invention comprises an inner box and an outer box disposed in spaced relationship around the inner box. A plurality of continuous, parallel ice slides are provided on the interior of the bottom of the inner box, with each slide having an upwardly pointed tip. The slides are oriented perpendicularly to the cutting side of the inner box to provide a plurality of continuous surfaces upon which a block of ice is moved. A pusher plate within the ice cutting machine allows advancement of the block of ice towards a cutter. The bottom edge of the pusher plate has a plurality of bearings which fit in sliding relationship between adjacent slides to guide the pusher plate toward the cutter. The ice melts down into the grooves between adjacent ice slides to enhance stability of the ice, while minimizing the likelihood that ice will stick to the bottom of the ice cutting machine. Structure is provided to reduce vibrational movement of the block of ice, while it is being moved towards the cutter.

Claims

1. A device for producing ice cutings, comprising:

an inner box comprised of a flat rectangular base held in spaced relationship to a rectangular top by an upright rear wall, the inner box having first and second open opposing ends adjacent the rear wall, and a front wall which is partially open and defines an ice receiving opening having an upper edge and a lower edge;

an L-shaped flange projecting outwardly from and upwardly over the upper edge of the ice receiving opening;

an L-shaped flange projecting outwardly from and downwardly below the lower edge of the ice receiving opening;

an inner plate configured to close the first open end of the inner box, the inner plate being comprised of a flat member with flanges perpendicular to the flat member, the perpendicular flanges fitting flushly against adjacent walls of the inner box, the flat member defining a slot;

a pressure mechanism hingedly attached to the inner plate, the pressure mechanism comprising an elongated pressure plate attached to the inner plate with a vertical hinge having an axis, said hinge being adjacent a top edge of the inner plate, means for moving the pressure plate around the axis of the vertical hinge, and a plurality of grating members depending downwardly from a bottom face of the pressure plate and being inclined toward a cutter which is mounted adjacently to the second open end, the grating members being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows across at least a part of the pressure plate, the pressure plate being further provided with downwardly sloping flanges along opposing longitudinal edges of the pressure plate for retaining a block of ice beneath the pressure plate while permitting the block of ice to slide toward said cutter;

a plurality of continuous ice slides on the flat base of the inner box, each ice slide having an upwardly extending tip, the ice slides being substantially perpendicular to said inner plate;

a square pusher plate in parallel relationship to said inner plate, a bottom edge of the pusher plate being provided with a plurality of bearings which fit in sliding relationship between adjacent ice slides to guide the pusher plate towards the second end, the bearings having a height greater than that of the ice slides to hold the bottom edge of the pusher plate in spaced relationship to the ice slides;

a pusher arm attached to the pusher plate and extending through the slot in the inner plate;

an outer box held in spaced relationship around the inner box by first and second spacer members, the first spacer member being comprised of a plate defining an opening and having a first set of flanges which extend from a first face and fit in contiguous relationship with the inner box, and a second set of flanges which extend from a second face and fit in continguous relationship with an interior of the outer box, the second spacer member being comprised of a plate defining an opening and having a first set of flanges which extend from a first face and fit in contiguous relationship with the inner box, and a second set of flanges which extend from a second face and fit in contiguous relationship with an interior of the outer box, the outer box also being held in spaced relationship to the inner box by the L-shaped flanges projecting outwardly from the top and bottom edges of the ice receiving opening; and

a cutter disposed adjacently to the second end for cutting the ice as the pusher plate advances the ice into the cutter.