US 12,331,981 B2
Ice vending machine having reduced footprint
Mark Metzger, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by Quick and Pure Holdings, LLC, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/854,330.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/217,002, filed on Jun. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0003433 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. F25C 5/20 (2018.01); B65B 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC F25C 5/20 (2018.01) [B65B 1/36 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ice machine comprising:
a frame;
a cabinet extending around the frame;
at least one ice maker coupled to the frame;
a first ice hopper located beneath the ice maker and configured to receive ice from the ice maker;
an auger extending along a portion of the first ice hopper to move ice to an opening;
a second hopper configured to receive ice from the first ice hopper moved through the opening by the auger;
a bagging system configured to receive ice from the second hopper;
a cradle configured to support and constrain a bag from the bagging system, while the bag receives ice from the second hopper;
a retrieval section configured to receive the bag after the bag is filled with ice;
a sealing system comprising:
a heating element;
a pusher plate having an opening formed therein;
a biasing assembly coupled to the pusher plate;
wherein the pusher plate is moved by the biasing assembly to expose the heating element for sealing a bag of ice;
a chute extending from and pivotable about the second hopper; and
a pusher section configured to bias the bag of ice towards the sealing system to seal the bag of ice using the heating element;
wherein the pusher section is configured to push against and pivot the chute about the second hopper.