Ice conveyor

A one-piece plastic drive wheel for an ice conveying apparatus having a flexible cable with a plurality of paddles fixed thereto at regular intervals, the drive wheel comprising:

• a body having an axis about which the drive wheel rotates;
• a plurality of teeth which protrude radially from the body, wherein a paddle trough is defined by portions of each two adjacent teeth, each paddle trough having a floor which is spaced less than a first distance from the axis;
• portions of each tooth which define a leading radially protruding finger;
• portions of each tooth which define a trailing radially protruding finger, wherein the paddle trough is defined between the trailing finger of a first tooth and the leading finger of a second tooth;
• portions of each tooth leading finger which define a bearing face which opens to a paddle trough for engagement with portions of a paddle disposed within said trough, wherein the leading finger of a tooth protrudes radially from the axis a distance which is less than the distance which the trailing finger of said tooth protrudes radially from the axis;
• and
• portions of each tooth which define a connector trough between the leading finger and the trailing finger of said tooth, the connector trough having a floor which is spaced from the axis a distance greater than the first distance, the connector trough receiving a cable connector therein when a paddle is engaged within a preceding paddle trough.

An ice conveying apparatus comprising:

• a cable having a first end and a second end
• a first ball shank fixed to the cable first end:
• a first nut having a cable opening and a threaded cup, the cable extending through the first nut cable opening and the first ball shank being retained within the threaded cup;
• a second ball shank fixed to the cable second end;
• a second nut having a cable opening and a threaded cup which faces the first nut threaded cup, the cable extending through the second nut and the second ball shank being retained within the second nut threaded cup;
• a screw engaged with the first nut and the second nut to connect the cable first end to the cable second end in a closed loop;
• a plurality of paddles fixed to the flexible cable at regular intervals;
• a conduit through which the flexible cable extends;
• a drive motor;
• and
• a drive wheel connected to and driven by the drive motor, wherein the drive wheel has a plurality of radially projecting teeth spaced around the perimeter of the drive wheel, wherein a paddle trough is defined between two subsequent teeth, portions of each tooth adjacent a paddle trough defining a bearing face, the flexible cable extending around a fraction of the drive wheels, such that a paddle, when engaged on the drive wheel, extends within a paddle trough with portions engaging a tooth bearing face, and wherein portions of the drive wheel are relieved to avoid contact with the first nut connected to the second nut.

An ice conveying apparatus comprising:

• a cable having a first end and a second end
• a first fitting fixed to the cable first end:
• a second fitting fixed to the cable second end;
• a first fastener half having an opening through which the cable first end extends, the first fitting being retained therein in a ball and socket connection,
• a second fastener half having an opening through which the cable second end extends, the second fitting being retained therein in a ball and socket connection, wherein the first fastener half is connected to the second fastener half to form the cable into a continuous loop;
• a plurality of paddles fixed to the flexible cable at regular intervals;
• a conduit through which the flexible cable extends;
• a drive motor;
• and
• a drive wheel connected to and driven by the drive motor, wherein the drive wheel has a plurality of radially projecting teeth spaced around the perimeter of the drive wheel, wherein a paddle trough is defined between two subsequent teeth, portions of each tooth adjacent a paddle trough defining a bearing face, the flexible cable extending around a fraction of the drive wheels, such that when engaged by the drive wheel, the paddles extend within a paddle trough with portions engaging a tooth bearing face.