An apparatus adapted to dispense bagged ice, the apparatus comprising:
- an ice making unit;
- an ice collecting and bagging unit positioned below the ice making unit, the ice collecting and bagging unit defining a first interior and comprising:
- a frame disposed within the first interior;
- and
- a roll of bags disposed within the first interior and supported by the frame;
- wherein the roll of bags is cylindrical in shape and circumferentially extends about a core;
- wherein the first interior extends widthwise, along the width of the ice collecting and bagging unit, in a first direction;
- wherein the cylindrical shape of the roll of bags extends longitudinally in a second direction that is coaxial with, or parallel to, the widthwise extension of the first interior in the first direction;
- wherein the ice collecting and bagging unit further comprises a forward edge that partially defines the first interior;
- and
- wherein the frame and the roll of bags are positioned proximate the forward edge to facilitate access to the roll of bags;
- a face panel covering the first interior, the face panel being dislocatable and having an open position that permits access to the first interior of the ice collecting and bagging unit, and access to the roll of bags;
- wherein the face panel has at least one fastener located along a bottom portion of the face panel and is adapted to secure the face panel in a closed position covering the first interior;
- wherein the at least one fastener is adapted to allow the face panel to be dislocated from the closed position to the open position;
- and
- wherein when the face panel is in the open position, the longitudinal extension of the cylindrical shape of the roll of bags in the second direction is visible, in its entirety, in the first interior of the ice collecting and bagging unit;
- a compartment defining a second interior;
- a door, wherein the door has an open position that permits access to the second interior of the compartment via an opening;
- wherein the door has at least one hinge located along an axis associated with an edge of the door;
- wherein the door is adapted to pivot about the axis to place the door in its open position;
- and
- wherein the door is vertically spaced from a bottom edge of the apparatus;
- a bagged ice discharge unit at least partially positioned below the ice collecting and bagging unit, the bagged ice discharge unit comprising:
- a pair of parallel support arms;
- an ice bag discharger positioned between the pair of parallel support arms;
- a guide plate positioned between the pair of parallel support arms;
- a rotatable guide positioned between the pair of parallel support arms and operably coupled to the ice bag discharger;
- and
- a motor operably coupled to the rotatable guide;
- wherein the ice bag discharger is positioned in the second interior of the compartment;
- wherein the guide plate has at least one position, the at least one position being an inclined position;
- wherein, when the guide plate is in the at least one position:
- the guide plate extends forwardly towards the opening of the second interior and the door, such that a first edge of the guide plate is positioned below a second edge of the guide plate, and such that the second edge is laterally spaced further from the opening of the second interior and from the door than the first edge;
- and
- the guide plate is positioned in the second interior of the compartment;
- wherein the ice bag discharger is adapted to support a bag of ice;
- wherein the motor operates to cause discharge of the bag of ice via the rotatable guide;
- wherein the rotatable guide operates to rotate the ice bag discharger to cause the discharge of the bag of ice within the second interior of the compartment;
- and
- wherein the guide plate is positioned such that the bag of ice contacts the guide plate when the bag of ice is discharged;
- a mounting plate positioned in the second interior of the compartment, the mounting plate having a locking tab;
- wherein the mounting plate is positioned along an interior wall of the compartment;
- a plurality of detectors, the plurality of detectors comprising:
- a door opening detector adapted to detect the open position of the door;
- a bag presence detector adapted to detect the presence of the bag of ice on the ice bag discharger;
- and
- a capacity detector adapted to detect fill level of the compartment;
- and
- a controller adapted to control the operations of the ice collecting and bagging unit, wherein the controller is in communication with the plurality of detectors.