ES2242259T3 - DEPOSIT SET FOR ICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice bin assembly (16) for use with an ice making apparatus (12). The ice bin (16) includes an ice storage cavity (34) and an ice access opening (40). A door (44) is attached to the ice bin (16) over the ice access opening (40). A pin (122) is attached to one of the ice bin (16) and the door (44). The pin (122) has a cavity (158) opening onto an outer surface thereof. A resilient material (160) is disposed within a cavity therein in order to bias a locking element (156) outward therefrom. A channel member (134) is attached to the other of the ice bin (16) and the door (44). The channel member (134) receives the pin (122) and has a first aperture (170) sized to receive the locking element (156). <IMAGE>

Description

Ice tank set.

The present invention relates generally to ice storage tanks. More particularly, the The present invention relates to an ice deposit assembly that It has an improved joint for use with the tank door for ice In addition, the present invention relates to a set of ice bin that has an ice deflector, a member for base protection and a bucket retainer to remove Ice, improved.

The manufacture of machines for manufacturing and / or Vending ice has certain disadvantages associated with it. For example, the doors of some machines for manufacturing and / or dispensing ice have been problematic It is known that the apparatus for making ice and the ice bin of a machine for manufacturing and / or dispensing Ice have flat front faces. To the ice bin goes attached a pivot door, in order to provide access to the stored ice, and a usual joint has been used to join The door to the ice bin. However, depending on the door stability, the user may have to maintain the door open with one hand while with the other hand tries to extract the ice with the spoon. This situation is cumbersome and uncomfortable for the user.

Alternatively, the door opens upwards to the point that it expires backwards. Usually this means that the door rests against the device to manufacture the ice. However, if the ice bin is shaken while the door is leaning back, it can fall, hitting the hand, the arm or head of the person who is drawing ice from the deposit with the spoon.

A document 5,211,030 describes a apparatus for storing and dispensing ice. This device has a door that is kept open by means of a secured sear over the door. Therefore, it is required by the User an action to lock the door in the open position. In document CH 327.206 an articulation of self-locking, in which a spring is used to push a member out from the center of an articulation element. This has the disadvantage that the spring may get stuck or fail.

The general rectangular appearance of certain machines for manufacturing and / or dispensing ice has also been undesirable in a way. Currently, some users consider that a more rounded appearance of a machine for manufacturing and / or selling Ice is more attractive from an aesthetic point of view. Without However, the use of a curved surface that is part of the ice bin and door prevents the use of the above articulation constructions. In particular, previously joined a joint through the entire upper or lower edges of the door when a surface construction was used rectangular or flat This construction will not serve for a deposit for ice and a door that has its curved surfaces.

There have also been problems associated with the proper division of ice in the ice bin. In many machines for manufacturing and / or dispensing ice, a mold of vertical ice fixing to form a vertical grid of interconnected ice cubes. At the conclusion of the cycle of freezing, the machine for manufacturing and / or dispensing ice switches to a collection cycle, in which a gaseous refrigerant is admitted heat to the evaporator, in order to defrost the front bond that holds that ice sheet to the evaporator. That allows the leaf of ice falls by gravity into the ice bin. He impact of the ice sheet on the bottom of the ice bin or on the stored ice is intended to divide the ice sheet into individual ice cubes. However, if the deposit for ice is relatively full of ice, the ice sheet will fall on a shorter distance than normally expected, and will not break as needed Consequently, the user may suffer the discomfort of having to manually divide the ice sheet. Alternatively, if a person is extracting ice from a deposit when the shelf of interconnected cubes falls, the weight of the whole blade can hit the hand of the person who is doing the removal.

There are also certain disadvantages associated with the ice scoop storage on many machines to manufacture and / or sell ice. In particular, the spoon for extracting ice is usually stored in the storage tank for ice. However, if left unused for a long period of time, the ice scoop can be buried in the ice that has formed more recently. Consequently, the user may suffer the discomfort of having to "dig" to take out the spoon to extract ice from under the formed ice more Recently.

Another problem that arises in some machines to manufacture and / or sell ice is the protection of the base of the ice bin. The basis of a machine to manufacture and / or dispensing ice is frequently exposed to being hit by users In addition, the placement of a machine to manufacture and / or dispensing ice in a high traffic area can result in frequently that cars or other devices enter contact with the base. In one or the other of these situations, that contact can lead to scratches or other damage to the ice bin, which will be detrimental to its appearance.

This invention relates to a deposit assembly for ice for use in an ice maker. In a first aspect of the invention, the ice bin includes a cavity for ice storage and an opening for ice access. To the an ice bin is attached to a door over the access opening to ice A pin is attached to one of the ice bin or the door, The pin has a cavity that opens on a surface outside of it. There is a material inside the cavity elastic, in order to load a locking element out from it. One channel member is attached to the other in the warehouse for ice and the door. The channel member receives the pin and it has a first opening sized to receive the element of blocking.

According to another aspect of the invention, provides an ice storage assembly in which the door is likely to be retained in at least two positions with Regarding an ice bin. Positions include a closed position, in which the door extends over the opening of access to ice, and an open position in which the door is held in an open position by the joint.

According to another aspect of the invention, provides an ice deposit assembly with a member for base protection. The ice bin includes a base with the base protection member that is connected to it.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, an ice tank assembly is provided that has a ice deflector. The ice deflector includes a plurality of fins spaced apart that extend from a surface of ice deflection. Under the ice deflector is located an ice bin that has a cavity for storing the ice.

According to another aspect of the invention, a Ice tank assembly is provided with a support for the ice scoop The support for the spoon to extract ice is located inside an ice storage cavity of the ice bin.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide significant advantages over other deposits for ice. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the tank for Ice includes a joint that has a pin and a sleeve. The pin includes a locking element that fits into an opening inside the cuff The door of the ice bin can be by both locked in an open position, while the user pulls ice from the ice bin. In another embodiment, the use of a ice deflector that has a plurality of fins that extend from an ice deflection surface, facilitates the division of the ice sheet when it falls from the device to make ice In yet another embodiment, the use of a member for base protection that has a plurality of fingers elastics attached to a channel inside the base of the tank to ice, protects the base of the ice storage bin against scratches or other damage. In another embodiment, the use of a bucket support for extracting ice inside the cavity to Ice storage of the ice bin, provides support for a spoon to extract ice above the ice that is being stored inside the cavity for storage of the ice.

As used herein, the term "united" It is intended to include both the direct union of two elements as the connection of two elements by one or more elements intermediate

The invention, together with its consequent advantages, it can be better understood with reference to the detailed description which follows, considered in conjunction with the drawings that are accompany.

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an ice bin assembly in which they have been illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention and in which it is shown the door in the open position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the assembly of ice bin shown in Figure 1, with an apparatus for make ice represented in dashed lines;

Figure 2A is an enlarged sectional view of the Door area of the ice bin assembly as the illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the base of the ice bin, given along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 3A is an enlarged sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the protection of the base represented in the Figure 3;

Figure 4 is a top view of the tank for ice as shown in the Figures 1-3, and in which a first one has been illustrated realization of the ice deflector;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the ice deflector, door and joint, such as represented in Figures 1-4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the member of the door channel and a part of the joint represented in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of a part of the joint shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the articulation, the door and the channel member of Figure 5, in the that the door has been illustrated in the open position;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the articulation, the door and the channel member of Figure 5, in the that the door has been illustrated in the closed position; Y

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the assembly of ice storage, similar to that shown in Figure 2A except that another embodiment of support for the ice scoop

In Figs. 1 and 2 a set of ice tank 10 built in accordance with the embodiments Preferred of the present invention. Fig. 2 also illustrates a ice maker 12. Although the present can be used invention with an apparatus for making conventional ice, the apparatus for make ice described in US Pat. Numbers 4,878,361 and 4,907,422 can also be used with the present invention. These machines can be further refined by such improvements such as a drain valve control, as taught in U.S. Patent No. 4,785,641, and a pump assembly particularly advantageous, such as that recommended in the U.S. Patent No. 4,767,286. In addition, they can also be used collection pressure regulating valve systems, such as taught in US Pat. No. 4,774,815 and a control anti-blockage such as that recommended in US Pat. nº 4,550,572.

They can also be incorporated into a plate evaporator devices for making ice that have molds open base freezing, vertical, whose water circulation either from a gutter or collector to accumulate ice, as teaches in US Pat. No. 4,489,567. In addition, the evaporator It could be formed from integral pieces of extruded aluminum, as taught in US Pat. No. 5,197,357. Finally, Controls may also be used for collection, such as recommended in US Pat. No. 4,480,441, and a system of cleaning / sterilization, as disclosed in the patent of USA No. 5,408,834.

An embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 2 preferred of ice deflector 14 and ice reservoir 16. A plurality of feet 18 support the ice bin 16 by on top of a base surface. 18 feet are construction usual. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the base 20 of the deposit for ice 16 includes a member for protection of base 26. The base protection member 26 extends around the rounded front surface 28 and of the two lateral surfaces 30 (of which one is shown in Fig. 1). As it looks better in Fig. 2, a cavity 34 is used for storage of the ice, to store the ice that falls from the device to make ice 12. To form cavity 34 for storage of the ice a liner 36 is used for ice storage. The deposit for ice 16 also includes a back surface 38, as depicted in Fig. 2.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, an opening access to rectangular ice 40 provides access to cavity 34 for ice storage. Attached to the ice bin 16 there are a door 44. Door 44 and front surface 28 are rounded. As a result, when the user puts their fingers in the opening 46 and the door 44 goes up, the outer edges 48 are lifted from the ice bin assembly 10. This position is illustrated in Fig. 1.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rounded front surface 28 and the two lateral surfaces 30 They are formed with stainless steel blades. Back surface 38 is formed of galvanized steel. These surfaces are fixed to base frame 49 using double-sided tape. The lining 36 of storage for ice, as shown in Fig. 2, It is preferably manufactured from a linear low polyethylene density, and the door 44 is preferably made of a material plastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Although the door 44 is preferably molded by air insufflation to pressure, ice storage liner 36 is manufactured, preferably, using a rotational molding process. In particular, a steel mold of the liner 36 of the storage for ice, and a polyethylene is placed in the mold Linear low density, powder. The mold is rotated within an oven that is at a temperature of about 550 0. Once the linear low density polyethylene has melted, the mold is cooled and the storage liner is removed for ice. The liner 36 of the ice storage is secured to the front surface 28, to the two lateral surfaces 30, to the back surface 38 and to the bottom surface 48, by a foam insulation forms in position, such as a foam of urethane.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2A, it has represented in them a spoon for extracting ice 50 supported inside cavity 34 for ice storage. The spoon for extracting ice 50 includes a collection element 54 and a handle 56. As best seen in Fig. 2A, the ice scoop 50 it is placed on a first support member 60 and on a second support member 62. The first support member 60 has a surface 64 that projects downward and inward, and a shelf 66 projecting out. A vertical nerve 68 is extends from a central part of the shelf 66 and longitudinally along it. The upper lip 70 of the collection element 54 is supported on shelf 66, directly adjacent to the nerve 68. The second support member 62 includes a wall 70 which is extends horizontally, and two side walls 72 1 that form a bag, in order to support the handle 56.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first support member 60 is ultrasonically welded to ice deflector 12, and is formed of a polyethylene foam high density structural, such as "Soltex t60-500 ". Second support member 62 is formed of a flexible vinyl (90 durometer) that is also used to form a trim molding 74 around the perimeter of the opening 40 for access to the ice. The ice scoop 50 is of usual design.

In Figs. 3 and 3A a better illustrated preferred embodiment of the member for protection of the base 26. The base 20 of the ice bin 16 includes a channel 80 that is extends adjacent to the front surface 28 and the surfaces lateral 30. Channel 80 opens downward towards a surface base, and includes an upper wall 82 and side walls 84. As best seen in Fig. 3A, in a vertical part 88 of the member for the protection of the base 26 a plurality of fingers are formed 86 semi flexible. The fingers 86 are sized to fit with safety in channel 80. A cover part 90 extends towards above, adjacent to the front surface 28. The cover part 90 includes an upper lip 92 that extends towards, and makes contact with, the front surface 28 of the ice bin 16. A piece of double-sided tape 94 is used to connect the back surface 96 of the member for protection of the base 26 with the front surface 28.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cover part 90 extends upwards by approximately 7.6 cm, the length of the member being for protection of the base 26 adjusted to fit around the perimeter of the surface front 28 and side surfaces 30. The member for protection of the base 26 is preferably formed of a Flexible vinyl material (90 durometer).

Figs. 2, 2A and 4-5 illustrate better a preferred embodiment of the ice deflector 14. The ice deflector 14 is attached to a top 100 of the ice bin 16, and includes a first side wall 102, a second side wall 103, and an upper surface 104. Elements usual fasteners, such as screws (not shown) pass to through openings 106, in order to fix the ice deflector 14 to the ice bin 16. As best seen in Figs. 2A and 4, fins 108 extend inward from the surface 110 of ice deflection The particular size and configuration of the ice deflector 14 must be modified to suit the apparatus for making ice and the associated ice bin. How for example, in an ice machine that has a length 55.9 cm, five fins 108 can be used, as has been shown in Fig. 5. The first fin is spaced approximately 9.5 cm from the first side wall 102, being the remaining fins spaced each other approximately 7.0 cm. Although five fins are used in this embodiment, the number Particular fins could be modified as needed. By example, seven fins could be used, with an ice deflector that had a length of 76.2 cm. In addition, thirteen could be used fins with an ice deflector having a length of 121.9 cm.

With reference to Fig. 2A, each fin 108 includes a surface 114 that projects downward, a tip curved 116 and a bottom surface 118 that extends essentially horizontally. According to a preferred embodiment, the surface 114 that projects downwards has a length of approximately 19.05 cm, and the lower surface 118 has a length of approximately 10.2 cm, with an existing 150º angle between ice deflection surface 110 and surface 114 that is projected down.

Although the ice deflector 14 can be build from a great diversity of usual, known materials by those who possess the current knowledge of the technique, the preferred embodiment has been constructed using a molding process by injection with a blowing agent suitable for applications for food, such as the "Endex NBC50®" manufactured by the Endex Polymer Additives, Inc., of Aurora, Illinois (USA). The material that is preferred to use to form the ice deflector 14 is a high density structural polyethylene foam, such like the "Soltex t60-500".

In Figs. 5-9 is where better the connection of door 44 with the tank for ice storage 16. A joint 120 is used to connect door 44 to ice deflector 14 and to the tank to ice 16. Joint 120 includes pins 122 that are fixed mounted on a channel 124 inside the upper part 126 of the gate 44. More specifically, the backs 128 of the pins 122 are fixedly attached to collar 130, which is fixedly secured to channel 124. In operation, the pins 122 are rotatable with respect to channel member 134 of the ice deflector 14. In the preferred embodiment, the pins 12 are rotatable within a sleeve 136 mounted inside of channel member 134. Channel member 134 and the deflector of Ice 14 are monolithic in this preferred embodiment. The member of channel 134 is projected out through the supporting wall 140 and brackets 144. Channel member 134 includes two slots 146 (of which one has been shown) extending to through a central part of it. Although in the realization preferred illustrated the channel member 134 is attached to the baffle of ice 14, could also be attached directly to the reservoir for ice 16, or be joined in another way.

The pins 122 are fixedly connected to the collar 130 inside channel 124 of gate 44. How it looks best in Figs. 8 and 9, pins 122 include a keyway 148 which It extends along their length and coincides with a vertical nerve 150 inside collar 130. Keyway 148 and the nerve 150 prevents the pins 122 from rotating with respect to the channel 124 and gate 44. Pins 122 include the elements of locking that take the form of the balls 156 in the embodiment preferred. The 156 balls are trapped inside the cavities 18. Behind each of the balls 156 is located a material non-metallic elastic, such as rubber pad 160, with object to load them out beyond the outer surface 164. As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, balls 156 are loaded out of cavities 158. However, they can be press the balls 156 inward, and place them inside full of cavities 158, being sunk against them rubber pads 160. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, pins 122 include three imprisoned 156 balls within three individual cavities 158 and loaded by three individual rubber pads 160.

The pins 122 fit inside the sleeves (of which one of the two has been represented) 136, which are imprisoned within the channel member 134. The sleeves 136 they include two sets of three openings 170 (of which it has represented one). The second set of openings is spaced circumferentially of the first of the openings, each being 170 openings set dimensioned and spaced to fit to the spacing of the three balls 156. As illustrated in the Fig. 6, the sleeves 136 also include a keyway 174 which is sized to match a nerve 176 that extends inside of channel member 134. Keyway 174 has a shape in general of U, with two 175 notches (of which it has been represented a) at the opposite ends thereof. Nerve 176 so in general of L prevents a sleeve 136 from moving inside the member of channel 134. In addition, the rib 176 prevents the sleeves 136 are pushed out by one end of channel member 134. In addition, the configuration of the notches 175 prevents the sleeve 136 is inadvertently located within channel member 134 in The wrong configuration. In particular, if turned 180 degrees the sleeve 136 in a horizontal plane, the other notch 175 is not would properly align with nerve 176. Consequently, the sleeve 136 would not fit inside the channel member, as has been illustrated in Fig. 6, and the person who made the assembly could reinsert sleeve 136 using proper orientation.

In Fig. 8 the relationship between the pin 122 and sleeve 136 when door 44 is in the open position The balls 156 are loaded by the pad of rubber 160 inside the openings 170. The balls 156 are loaded inside the openings by a force sufficient to hold pin 122 in a fixed position with respect to sleeve 137, thereby keeping door 44 in the open position illustrated. Door 44 is placed in the closed position, as it has been illustrated in Fig. 9, when the user pushes down on gate 44. The balls 156 are then sunk into the rubber pads 160 when turning pins 122 with the door movement 44. In the closed position, the balls 156 they are loaded back into the second set of openings 170 inside sleeve 136. The openings of the second set of openings prevent elasticity from being adversely affected of rubber pads 160 by inward pressure on the pads for a long period of time, as would happen If not.

The joint 120 is mounted by inserting for it the sleeves 137 through one of the grooves 146 within the channel member 134. Keyway 174 and nerve 176 cooperate to fix the sleeve 136 with respect to one end of the channel member 134. Pins 122 are also inserted through one of the slots 146, the back 128 being pushed into the collar 130 of channel 124 at gate 44. Keyway 148 and the nerve 150 prevents pins 122 from rotating with respect to the channel 124 and at door 44. Collars 130 are preferably molded into the channel 124 of the door 44 during its formation. Consequently, pins 122 can rotate with respect to sleeves 136 when opening and closing door 44. In order to remove the door 44, the user would apply a lateral force to the pins 122 extending for this a finger from slot 146 inside the channel member 134. The pins 122 will slide then out of channel member 134 and they will completely enter channel 124 of gate 44. Consequently, it could then remove the door 44 of its union from its union with the tank to ice 16.

According to the preferred embodiment, the pins 122 are formed from a galvanized steel stretched in cold # 1215. The balls 156 are formed of hardened steel within a hardness range of 58-60 of the Rockwell C scale, and They have a diameter of 8.0 mm. Rubber pads 160 se preferably form a rubber buna-n 210. The sleeve 136 is preferably formed of a hardened steel cold rolled within a hardness range of 45-50 of the Rockwell C scale.

An embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 10 Alternative and preferred support member for the spoon. He bucket support member is essentially the same as the considered with respect to Fig. 2A, except that the first support member 200 includes a retention surface 202 by above the shelf 204. The retaining surface 202 includes a first part 206 which extends substantially parallel to the shelf 204, and a part 208 that projects upwards. The combination of shelf 204 and retaining surface 202 acts to pinch the upper lip 210 of the scoop to extract 212 ice between them. This setting helps prevent the ice scoop falls into the ice bin associated. The second support member 214 includes a wall 216 that it extends horizontally and two side walls 218 that form a bag to support the handle 220.

The present invention can be realized in other specific forms, without deviating from the spirit of the invention. By For example, the number of fins in the baffle of the ice, or the locking elements in the pins. Also I know they could use usual materials, in addition to those described here, to build the present invention. Therefore the description detailed done in the foregoing is intended to be considered as illustrative, and not as limiting, and understood that the accompanying claims, including all their equivalent, are intended to define the scope of the invention.

Claims (30)

1. An ice tank set (10) for use with an ice maker (12), comprising: (a) an ice bin (16) that has a cavity (34) for ice storage and an opening (40) for access to ice, which provides access to the cavity (34) to ice storage; (b) a door (44) attached over the opening (40) ice access; (c) a pin (122) attached to one of the ice bin (16) and the door (44), with the pin (122) a cavity (158) that opens on an outer surface (164) of the same, an elastic rubber material (160) and a locking element (156) which is arranged inside the cavity (158), charging the elastic rubber material (160) to the locking element (156) towards outside the cavity (158); Y (d) a channel member (134) attached to the other of between the ice bin (16) and the door (44), receiving the channel member (134) to pin (122) and having a first opening (170) sized to receive the locking element (156), whereby rotating the pin (122) with respect to the member channel (134), the locking element (156) will fit into the opening (170) within the channel member (134) and will thereby retain the Door (44) in an open position. 2. The ice tank assembly (10) according claim 1, wherein the pin (122) is connected to the door (44) and the channel member (134) is connected to the tank for ice (16). 3. Ice tank assembly (10) according claim 2, wherein the channel member (134) comprises a sleeve (136). 4. Ice tank assembly (10) according claim 1, wherein the blocking element (156) is a steel ball. 5. Ice tank assembly (10) according claim 2, wherein the door (44) includes an edge upper, the upper pivoting edge being connected to the ice bin (16). 6. The ice tank assembly (10) according claim 5, wherein the door (44) includes a surface front and the ice bin (16) includes a front surface (28), the front surfaces of the door (44) and the curved ice bin (16). 7. Ice tank assembly (10) according claim 1, further comprising a member (26) of protection of the base connected to a base (20) of the tank for ice (16). 8. Ice tank assembly (10) according claim 7, wherein the base protection member (26) includes a connector that is received inside an opening at the base (20) of the ice bin (16). 9. Ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 8, wherein the opening comprises a channel (80) extending adjacent to, and in parallel with, a surface outside of the ice bin (16). 10. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 9, wherein the connector comprises a plurality of flexible fingers (86), sized to fit in a channel (80). 11. The ice bin assembly (10) according to claim 10, wherein the channel (80) is open towards down towards a base surface (20). 12. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 11, wherein the member for protection of the base (26) extends outward from under the channel (80) and up adjacent to the outer surface of the tank to ice (16). 13. The ice bin assembly (10) according to claim 12, wherein the member for protection of the base (26) comprises an upper part that has a lip (92) that it is curved inward, which makes contact with the surface outside of the ice bin (16). 14. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 13, further comprising a piece of tape of double sided (94) located between the upper part of the member for protection of the base (26) and the outer surface of the tank for ice (16). 15. The ice bin assembly (10) according to claim 1, further comprising an ice deflector (14) located between the ice maker (12) and the tank for ice (16). 16. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 15, wherein the ice deflector (14) includes a plurality of fins (108) spaced laterally and which project inwards. 17. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 16, wherein the fins (108) are shaped in triangular general. 18. The ice bin assembly (10) according to claim 17, wherein the ice deflector (14) includes at least five fins (108). 19. Ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 18, wherein the ice deflector (14) is injection molded from a high plastic foam density. 20. The ice tank assembly (10) according claim 19, wherein the channel member (134) receiving The pin (122) is connected to the ice deflector (14). 21. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 20, wherein the channel member (134) is connected centrally to the ice deflector (14). 22. The ice bin assembly (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a support (60, 62) for the ice scoop located inside the cavity (34) to ice storage 23. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 22, wherein the support (60, 62) for the spoon to extract ice includes a first surface (66) at an angle down, adjacent to the opening (40) to access the ice. 24. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 23, wherein the first angled surface (66) down includes a nerve (68) that extends substantially upwards. 25. Ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 23, wherein the first angled surface (66) down is connected to an ice deflector (14). 26. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 25, wherein the support (60, 62) for the spoon for extracting ice also includes a second surface (70) that is extends into the cavity (34) for ice storage, from a position below the opening (40) for access to the ice. 27. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 26, wherein the second surface (70) is extends essentially horizontally. 28. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 27, wherein the second surface (70) is extends adjacent to a pair of spaced side walls (72) and that extend vertically. 29. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 28, further comprising a scoop for extracting ice (50) that has a spoon (54) and a handle (56), in which a upper part of the spoon (50) rests on the first surface (66) and a part of the spoon (56) rests on the second surface (70). 30. The ice tank assembly (10) according to claim 29, wherein a third surface (202) is extends above, and substantially parallel to, the first surface (204), the upper part (210) of the spoon being (212) secured between the first (204) and third surfaces (202).