Ice cube and crushed ice dispenser

An ice dispenser, comprising:

• a receptacle for storing ice pieces said receptacle having a front plate with a discharge opening;
• a rotatable shaft passing through said receptacle and extending forwardly through said discharge opening;
• means for selectively rotating said shaft in either direction;
• means positioned in said receptacle and rotatably connected to said shaft for dispensing ice pieces through said discharge opening when said shaft is rotated in one direction and also when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction;
• and
• means positioned in front of said front plate and rotatably coupled to said shaft for selectively crushing ice pieces dispensed through said discharge opening when said shaft is rotated in one direction, said selective crushing means being inoperative for crushing ice pieces when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

An ice dispenser, comprising:

• a receptacle for storing ice pieces, said receptacle including a front plate having a discharge opening and a bottom sloped downwardly toward the front;
• a shaft extending through said receptacle and passing forwardly through said discharge opening;
• means for rotating said shaft in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction;
• a feed section positioned in said receptacle and mounted for axial rotation to said shaft for feeding ice pieces through said discharge opening regardless of whether said feed wheel is rotated in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction;
• said shaft having a portion with a plurality of planar bends providing a serpentine shape for agitating ice pieces to gravity feed down said sloped bottom to said feed wheel;
• and
• means positioned in front of said front plate for selectively crushing ice pieces fed through said discharge opening depending on whether said shaft is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, said crushing means comprising at least one crusher arm mounted for axial rotation to said shaft and a stationary crusher arm wherein, when said shaft is rotated in one direction, ice pieces are caught and crushed between said crusher arm and said stationary crusher arm and, when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, said ice pieces escape from being caught and crushed.