Ice dispenser

In an ice storage device for storing particulate ice in an agitated state or condition, including an ice storage hopper having interior wall means and an agitator assembly within the hopper for agitating the ice, said agitator assembly having spoke-like agitator members for churning through the particulate ice, the improvement which comprises an agitator means in the form of an open ended length of plastic tubing secured to and extending between the free ends of a pair of said spokes with the free ends received in the open ends of the tubing for wiping said interior wall means of the storage hopper and minimizing tunneling in the particulate ice.

A device for storing ice in an agitated state, comprising:

• a hopper having sidewalls sloping inwardly toward the hopper bottom to define a trough at the bottom of the hopper, means in said trough for delivering particulate ice from said hopper, agitator means mounted above said delivery means on a generally horizontal axis generally parallel to the trough bottom including a rotatable shaft having generally radially extending axially and angularly spaced rigid spoke members which normally create tunnels in ice in the hopper during rotation of said shaft especially when the ice is at setting temperature, and a flexible polyvinylchloride tube having open ends receiving ends of two spoke members, said tubing extending in a generally helical path in close proximity to and against the hopper bottom wall for wiping said wall as the shaft is rotated.