Ice dispenser for a household refrigerator

Claim 2

An ice dispenser comprising: a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front wall having a discharge opening therein; dispensing means horizontally supported in said receptacle and including a rotatable feed section having the front end thereof positioned adjacent said opening; said feed section comprising a cylindrical collar and doubleblade screw auger within said collar forming with the inner surface of said collar two diametrically opposed helical passages for conveying, in single file arrangement, ice pieces entering the rear end of said feed section through said passages and to said opening upon rotation of said feed section; the diameter of said inner surface of said collar gradually increasing from the rear to the front end thereof whereby the cross-sectional areas of said passages gradually increase in the same direction to facilitate flow of ice pieces through said passage; and a metal blade at the inner end of said feed section adjacent to and overhanging the inlet ends of said auger blades for initial engagement with ice pieces entering said feed section.

Claim 3

An ice dispenser comprising: a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front wall having a discharge opening therein; dispensing means horizontally supported in said receptacle and including a rotAtable feed section having the front end thereof positioned adjacent said opening; said feed section comprising a cylindrical collar and double-blade screw auger within said collar forming with the inner surface of said collar two diametrically opposed helical passages for conveying, in single file arrangement, ice pieces entering the rear end of said feed section through said passages and to said opening upon rotation of said feed section; the diameter of said inner surface of said collar gradually increasing from the rear to the front end thereof whereby the cross-sectional areas of said passages gradually increase in the same direction to facilitate flow of ice pieces through said passages; the front ends of the blades of said auger being spaced from the front end of said collar; said feed section including a metal outlet blade bridging the space; said outlet blade having ice piece engaging surfaces of a lesser slope than the slope of the adjacent ice engaging surfaces of said auger blades.

Claim 4

An ice dispenser comprising: a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front wall having a discharge opening therein; dispensing means horizontally supported in said receptacle and including a rotAtable feed section having the front end thereof positioned adjacent said opening; said feed section comprising a cylindrical collar and double-blade screw auger within said collar forming with the inner surface of said collar two diametrically opposed helical passages for conveying, in single file arrangement, ice pieces entering the rear end of said feed section through said passages and to said opening upon rotation of said feed section; the diameter of said inner surface of said collar gradually increasing from the rear to the front end thereof whereby the cross-sectional areas of said passages gradually increase in the same direction to facilitate flow of ice pieces through said passages; the front ends of the blades of said auger being spaced from the front end of said collar; said feed section including a metal outlet blade bridging the space; said outlet blade having ice piece engaging surfaces of a lesser slope than the slope of the adjacent ice engaging surfaces of said auger blades.

Claim 5

The dispenser of claim 2 including a metal blade at the inlet end of said feed section overlapping the inlet ends of said auger blades for initially engaging ice pieces entering said feed section said inlet blade partially restricting the inlet ends of said passage.

Claim 6

An ice dispenser comprising: a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front wall having a discharge opening therein; dispensing means 15 horizontally supported in said receptacle and including a rotatable feed section having the front end thereof positioned adjacent said opening; said feed section comprising a cylindrical collar and a double-blade screw auger within said collar 20 and forming with the inner surface of said collar two diametrically opposed helical passages within said collar for conveying, in single file arrangement, ice pieces entering the rear end of said feed section through said passages and to said opening upon rotation of said feed section; and an inlet blade of metal forming an extension of the inlet ends of said auger blades said inlet blade partially restricting the entrances to said helical passage.

Claim 7

An ice dispenser comprising: a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front wall having a discharge opening therein; dispensing means 15 horizontally supported in said receptacle and including a rotatable feed section having the front end thereof positioned adjacent said opening; said feed section comprising a cylindrical collar and a double-blade screw auger within said collar 20 and forming with the inner surface of said collar two diametrically opposed helical passages within said collar for conveying, in single file arrangement, ice pieces entering the rear end of said feed section through said passages and to said opening upon rotation of said feed section; and an inlet blade of metal forming an extension of the inlet ends of said auger blades said inlet blade partially restricting the entrances to said helical passage.

Claim 8

An ice dispenser comprising: a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front wall having a discharge opening therein; dispensing means horizontally supported in said receptacle and including a rotatable feed section having the front end thereof positioned adjacent said opening; said feed section comprising a cylindrical collar and a double-blade screw auger within said collar and forming with the inner surface of said collar two diametrically opposed helical passages within said collar 20 for conveying, in single file arrangement, ice pieces entering the rear end of said feed section through said passages and to said opening upon rotation of said feed section; said discharge opening having a lower edge portion preventing discharge of ice pieces from substantially the lower half of said feed section the blades of said auger terminating within said collar short of the forward end of said collar; and an outlet blade extending forwardly from the forward ends of said auger blades, said outlet blade having ice engaging surfaces forming an extension of the surfaces of said auger blades, said surfaces of said outlet blade having a slope substantially less than the slope of the adjacent ice engaging surfaces of said auger blades.

Claim 9

An ice dispenser comprising: a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front wall having a discharge opening therein; dispensing means horizontally supported in said receptacle and including a rotatable feed section having the front end thereof positioned adjacent said opening; said feed section comprising a cylindrical collar and a double-blade screw auger within said collar and forming with the inner surface of said collar two diametrically opposed helical passages within said collar 20 for conveying, in single file arrangement, ice pieces entering the rear end of said feed section through said passages and to said opening upon rotation of said feed section; said discharge opening having a lower edge portion preventing discharge of ice pieces from substantially the lower half of said feed section the blades of said auger terminating within said collar short of the forward end of said collar; and an outlet blade extending forwardly from the forward ends of said auger blades, said outlet blade having ice engaging surfaces forming an extension of the surfaces of said auger blades, said surfaces of said outlet blade having a slope substantially less than the slope of the adjacent ice engaging surfaces of said auger blades.