Ice/beverage dispenser with in-line ice crusher
First Claim
1. A combination of a beverage dispenser and an ice crusher, the combination comprising:
- a) a beverage dispenser having an ice bin for storing ice cubes and a cold plate, wherein syrup for at least one beverage is routed through tubing in the cold plate;
b) an ice crusher housing having an inlet connected to the ice bin;
c) an ice crusher within the ice crusher housing forming crushed ice from the ice cubes, the ice crusher comprising at least one rotating crusher blade and at least one non-rotating crusher blade within the ice crusher housing, the ice crusher further comprises a wiper removing crushed ice from the rotating crusher blade, the crushed ice being lifted by the rotating crusher blade after the crushed ice is formed and before it contacts the wiper; and
d) a crushed ice outlet from the ice crusher housing; and
wherein the ice crusher and housing are configured and attached to the dispenser such that ice is raised in elevation between a place in the ice crusher housing where the crushed ice is formed and the crushed ice outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ice crusher is attached to an ice dispenser or to a combined ice and beverage dispenser. The ice crusher occupies minimal space in order to fit the dispenser into an existing space on a serving counter or in a beverage dispensing area. The ice crusher may also elevate the ice. In embodiments using this technique, the outlet of the ice from the ice crusher is higher than the ice inlet. As the ice flows from a source of ice, such as an ice bin, the ice is elevated while it is being crushed. The ice then flows from the outlet of the ice crusher down an ice chute or other outlet of the ice crusher, into a cup or container as desired. Other embodiments convey the ice without lifting it, and still other embodiments dispense either crushed or cubed ice, as the consumer may select. In one embodiment the selected crushed ice or cubed ice are both dispensed though the same ice dispensing chute. A retrofit kit may be used to add an ice crusher to an existing ice dispenser, or to an existing combined ice and beverage dispenser.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A combination of a beverage dispenser and an ice crusher, the combination comprising:
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a) a beverage dispenser having an ice bin for storing ice cubes and a cold plate, wherein syrup for at least one beverage is routed through tubing in the cold plate; b) an ice crusher housing having an inlet connected to the ice bin; c) an ice crusher within the ice crusher housing forming crushed ice from the ice cubes, the ice crusher comprising at least one rotating crusher blade and at least one non-rotating crusher blade within the ice crusher housing, the ice crusher further comprises a wiper removing crushed ice from the rotating crusher blade, the crushed ice being lifted by the rotating crusher blade after the crushed ice is formed and before it contacts the wiper; and d) a crushed ice outlet from the ice crusher housing; and
wherein the ice crusher and housing are configured and attached to the dispenser such that ice is raised in elevation between a place in the ice crusher housing where the crushed ice is formed and the crushed ice outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification