Ice dispenser with rotatable supply container

A portable dispensing device, comprising:

• a frame;
• a housing having a frusto-conical interior receptacle for receiving and storing particulate matter;
• a front circular wall provided on the larger end of said frusto-conical receptacle, said front wall having a discharge opening therein;
• means removably and rotatably mounting said housing and receptacle on the frame for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, said means comprising a pair of support rollers mounted on the frame adjacent the front wall of said receptacle and a support shaft on the rear wall of said receptacle for mounting within a bearing on the frame;
• drive means connected to said receptacle for rotating the housing and receptacle about a horizontal axis;
• selectively actuatable on-off means associated with said drive means, said on-off means comprising a push-button mounted below said discharge opening, said pushbutton being actuatable by contact with a container when placed in a position below the discharge opening for receiving dispensed particles;
• and
• dispensing means including a plurality of radially directed, longitudinally extending fins on the interior of said receptacle, each fin including at least a portion thereof generally adjacent said front wall, and a stationary deflecting chute mounted on the frame for extending generally upwardly through the discharge opening along the bottom edge thereof into the interior of said receptacle for deflecting particles falling from the forward edge of the ribs through the discharge opening as said housing and receptacle are rotated by the drive means.

A dispenser comprising:

• a frame;
• a housing defining an interior receptacle for storing particles, said receptacle being tapered from a closed end having a predetermined transverse cross sectional area to a discharge end having a larger transverse cross sectional area;
• a front wall having a discharge opening therein provided on the larger end of said tapered receptacle;
• means mounting said housing and receptacle on the frame for rotation about a generally horizontal axis;
• and
• dispensing means including at least one generally radially directed inwardly extending agitating member on the interior of said receptacle, said member including at least a portion thereof adjacent said front wall and a stationary deflector mounted on the frame for projecting through said discharge opening into the interior of said receptacle, said deflector comprising an upwardly directed chute portion for deflecting agitated particles outwardly of said receptacle through the discharge opening in the front wall as said housing is rotated.