TODAY’S PATENT – ICE MACHINE

The ICE MACHINE was invented by Richard S. Taylor (Joplin, MO) on 6^th of February 1988, bearing the patent number US4898002A.

This invention relates to an ice machine of compact, efficient, and economical design.

A compact, efficient, and economical ice machine is provided which allows rapid production of ice chips. The preferred ice machine includes an elongated, flexible member formed as an endless loop which is rotated through a freezing tube by means of a harvesting pulley. The freezing tube includes an evaporator therearound to freeze water in the tube and around the flexible member portion located therein. After an ice column is formed, hot refrigerant gas passes through the evaporator to loosen the ice column from the tube interior whereupon the pulley rotates to withdraw the flexible member portion from the freezing tube and the ice column attached thereto upwardly therefrom. The ice breaking element adjacent the pulley engages the ice column and fractures it into ice chips as the flexible portion passes over the pulley.