US2733577A

US2733577A - Ice cube machine

Info

Publication number: US2733577A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1956-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1973-02-07

Description

Feb. 7, 1956 w. ROTHE 2,733,577

ICE CUBE MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 William L. Rot/re I N V EN TOR.

Feb. 7, 1956 w. ROTHE 2,733,577

ICE CUBE MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

; 4 /0 William L. R0 me IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 7, 1956 w. ROTHE ICE CUBE MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4

William L. Roi/7e IN V EN TOR.

Byw

Feb. 7, 1956 w. ROTHE 2,733,577

ICE CUBE MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1953. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 6 24 William L. R0 the 222 INVENTOR.

United States PatentO ICE CUBE MACHINE William L. Rothe, New Lisbon, Wis.

Application February 2, 1953, Serial No. 334,524 11 Claims. c1. 62-107) This invention relates to an ice cube machine and particularly to a continuous machine for forming a sheet of ice and dividing it into ice cubes and delivering it for purchasers.

In the construction of ice cubes it is desirable that the ice be continuously formed as a clear sheet and continuously cut and removed as cubes so that there is a continuous process of forming and removing cubes. According to the present invention the ice cubes are formed by refrigerating a drum or cylinder and the clear ice is formed by continuously spraying a layer of water onto the refrigerated surface so that it freezes into clear ice sheets after which the sheets are scored circumferentially of the drum and grooved transversely of the drum so that they are in substantially cube formation secured to the surface of the drum after which the drum itself is warmed in a position to remove the ice cubes therefrom after which the removed ice cubes are delivered to a sheet and delivery belt through which any water may drain so that dry ice cubes are'delivered from the machine.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved ice cube machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ice cube machine continuously delivering ice cubes therefrom.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved drum cooler for an ice cube machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved means for mounting the rotary drum of an ice cube machine.

It is a further object to provide an improved machine for severing ice cubes from a sheet formed on a drum.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional elevation of an ice cube machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the ice cube machine according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the ice cube machine;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section through the ice cube machine taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an elevation of the saw for grooving the ice circumferentially of the drum.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a substantially rectangular frame is provided for enclosing a rotary drum. The frame comprises

longitudinal base members

10 and 12 on which are mounted a plurality of

transverse base members

14, 16, 18 and 20.

Corner members

22 and 24 are mounted on the transverse member 14 to which is attached a transverse top piece body 6 forming one end of a frame member while a bearing standard 28 likewise extends upwardly from the transverse member 14 and is supported from the

end members

22 and 24 respectively, by means of the

transverse brace

30 and 32. Upstanding corner members-34 and 36 are likewise mounted on the transverse member 16 together with a bearing standard 38. Similar upstanding corner members 40 are mounted on the transverse member 18 together with a bearing standard 42. A support standard 44 is mounted centrally of the transverse member 20 for a purpose presently to be described.

A hearing 46 is mounted on the bearing standard 28 and

similar bearings

48 and 50 are mounted on the

bearing standards

38 and 42. A substantially cylindrical drum 54 is positioned within the framework and one end of the drum 54 is provided with a stub shaft 56 extending axially from one end 58 of the drum. The stub shaft 56 being received in the bearing 46. A substantially tubular shaft 60 extends axially from the other end 62 of the drum both the stub shaft 56 and the tubular shaft 60 being rigidly connected to the drum. The tubular shaft 60 being received in the bearings 48 and 59 so that the drum 54 is mounted for rotation within the frame structure. A tubular member 64 is rigidly mounted on support 44 by means of the clamp 66 and extends axially through the tubular shaft 60. A pair of spaced apart bearing

surfaces

68 and 70 herein shown as being on the interior of the hollow shaft 60 but which could obviously be on the tubular member 64 are provided in spaced apart relation to provide an annular bearing chamber 72. A gland seal 74 is provided at the outer end of the shaft 69 and compresses a sealing compound 76 into fluid tight relation between the shaft 66 and the tubular member 64. The inner end of the shaft 60 and the tubular member 64 is sealed by means of an oblique bearing surface 78 which will be pressed into sealing relation by means presently to be described.

The drum 54 is provided with an inner head member 86 spaced from the end 58 to provide a chamber 82 which is preferably filled with a thermal insulating material 84. Likewise the head 86 is provided in spaced relation from the end 62 to provide the chamber 88 which is provided with heat insulating material 90. This construction provides a substantially cylindrical chamber within the drum having the peripheral portions exposed and thermal insulation on the ends thereof.

A space filling element is rigidly connected to the flared end of the inner end of the tubular member 64 and is of such shape that it is cylindrical on the bottom side but truncated or cut away on the top side so that it fills substantially two-thirds of the chamber and being closely spaced from the ends and bottom of the hollow cylinder in which it is contained. The space filler is provided with the

end members

94 and 96 the end member 96 being rigidly connected to the inner end of the tubular member 64 and having a substantially flat top member 98 and the

end members

94 and 96 and the top member 98 being connected by a partial cylindrical segment 100. The end 94 of the space filler member may be provided with a projecting stub shaft 102 which extends into a fixed bearing sleeve 164 carried by the inner head 89 so that the space filler member will be maintained in constantly spaced relation to the rotating drum. A spring 106 may be placed between the inner end of the bearing member 104 and the end of the stub shaft 162 so that the flared end 108 of the tubular member 64 will be pressed into substantially fluid tight relation with the transverse bearing surface '78 of the inner end of the tubular shaft 60.

A modification of the bearing element for the space filler is shown in Figure 5 in which the bearing sleeve 110 is provided with a stub shaft 112 which is provided with antifriction bearings 114 and press bearings 116 while the end member 94 is provided with inwardly exl J) tending bearing shell 118 so that the stub shaft 112 extends within the bearing shell and a spring 120 may be utilized to press the spacer member forward so that the flared end of the member 64 will be pressed into fluid tight relation with the bearing surface 78.

If desired insulating material 122 may be placed within the space filler member or if desired the'space may be left completely vacant as may be desired. An auxilliary chamber 124 is rigidly mounted on the space filler and separated therefrom so that it is substantially in contact with the upper portion of the rotating drum. The chamber 124 is provided so that it is substantially cylindrical on its upper surface 126 while the remaining surfaces may be of any desired shape to provide a container adjacent the top of the rotating drum. The container 124 is retained within a housing 130 which preferably provides substantially sealing contacts 132 and 134 with the inner surface of the drum. A plurality of

telescoping posts

136, 138, Mil-are provided at the various corners of the chamber 130 and spring members 142 continuously urge the telescoping members into extended position so that the chamber 130 is constantly pressed into firm contact with the inner surface of the drum 54. Similar spring members 144 likewise press the chamber 124 into contact with the inner surface of the drum 54 so that the chamber 124 will be constantly in sliding contact therewith. Telescoping sleeve 146 extends between the top member 94 of the space filler and the bottom of the container 130 for shielding a pair of pipes presently to be described.

A receiver tank 150 contains a quantity of liquid refrigerant under high pressure and a dispensing chamber 152 is provided with a float valve 154 for delivering refrigerant into a conduit 156 which extends through a sealing plate 158 in the end of the tubular member 64 and is in communication with the annular space 72 so that refrigerant from the tank 150 will be delivered through the conduit 156 to provide liquid refrigerant at low pressure within the annular chamber 72. A conduit 158 likewise connects with the annular chamber 72 and communicates with a pressure reduction valve 160 which delivers low pressure liquid refrigerant through the conduit 162 which extends longitudinally through the tubular member 64 and downwardly through the space filler member to communicate with the exterior of the arcuate member 100 adjacent the bottom thereof so that liquid refrigerant will be delivered into the bottom of the rotating drum.

A compressor 166 is provided with an intake conduit 168 which extends longitudinally through the tubular member 64 and upwardly through the base filler member to communicate with the space above the space filler so that gaseous refrigerant may be drawn through the conduit 168 and compressed by the compressor 166. A high pressure output conduit 170 is connected to the compressor 166 and communicates with a line 172 which extends longitudinally through the tubular member 64 upwardly through the space filler and through the sleeve 146 into the container 130 and upwardly into the chamber 124. Likewise a return conduit 174 returns from the chamber 124 and communicates with a condenser 176. A by-pass conduit 178 is connected between the high pressure conduit 170 and the condenser 176 being controlled by a pressure valve 186. A high pressure refrigerant conduit 182 extends from the condenser 176 to the receiver tank 150. Preferably a sight glass 134 will be provided on the re- 7 ceiver tank 150 so that the liquid of the refrigerant therein may be observed. A drip pan 190 is provided below the drum 54 and a water supply conduit 192 is arranged at each side of the drum 54 and is provided with a plurality of nozzles 194 so that water under pressure may be sprayed on the surface of the drum '54. Nozzles 194 being arranged substantially around the drum 54 so that water will be continuously supplied thereto so that a thin film of water will constantly be supplied thereto so that clear ice will be formed thereon.

A driving motor 200 is mounted on one end of the framework and is provided with shaft 202 which drives a counter shaft 204 on which are mounted a pair of

sprocket wheels

206 and 207. A sprocket wheel 210 is rigidly mounted on the hollow shaft 60 and a sprocket chain 212 connects the sprocket 207 with the sprocket 210 so that the motor 200 constantly rotates the drum 54 at a relatively low speed. Saw arbor 214 is mounted on a pair of supports 216 mounted on the transverse members 26 and carries a plurality or gang of saws 218. A sprocket wheel 220 is mounted on the arbor 214 and a sprocket 222 connects to the sprocket wheel 206 so that the gang saws 218 are driven by the motor 290. Gang saws 218 are mounted so that they extend in closely spaced relation to the exterior surface of the drum 54.

A transverse groover for providing grooves transversely to the grooves cut by the gang saws 218 is provided for producing cubes therein. This groover provides a framework 220 rigidly mounted by the drum 54 and having

transverse axles

222 and 224 mounted therein but the axles being in spaced relation and substantially parallel to the axis of the drum 54. A pair of sprocket wheels 226 are mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on the shaft 222 and a pair of sprocket wheels 228 are similarly mounted on the shaft 224. The pair of

sprocket wheels

226 and 228 being oppositely disposed. A pair of flexible elements such as sprocket chains 230 are mounted on the pairs of

wheels

226 and 228 so that the flexible elements 230 are in spaced parallel relation. Preferably the elements 230 are arranged as endless belts or chains so that they will move continuously over the

sprocket wheels

226 and 228 with at least one of the shafts being driven preferably from the motor 200. Transverse mounting members 232 extend between the flexible elements 230 so that the mounting elements 232 extend in parallel relation between the flexible elements 230. Upstanding blades 234 are mounted on each of the mounting elements 232 so that they extend rigidly outwardly from the flexible members. A heater member 240 is mounted between the flexible members 230 and preferably within the return of the 'endless member so that the heating member 240 is arranged in contact with the mounting elements on the base of the blades 234 extending downwardly substantially into contact with the upper surface of the drum 54. A scraper blade 250 is mounted for sliding contact with the outer surface of the drum adjacent the top thereof and terminates in in a slanting trough 252. Trough 252 terminating in a hopper 254 of a delivery tube 256 in which a worm not shown is driven through a gear box 253 by means of a driving motor 260. A conveyor pan 262 is supported by a suitable bracket 264 adjacent the end of the conveyor tube 256 and a conveyor belt 266 is provided for delivering the ice cubes delivered through the tube 256. The belt 266 being a screen belt so that any water on the cubes 268 delivered thereon will drop through and be delivered into the pan 262 so that only dry cubes will be delivered by the belt 266.

In the operation of the construction according to the present invention the motor 200 will rotate the drum 54 at a slow rate of speed. The valve 154 will allow low pressure liquid out of the high pressure container into the annular space in the bearing member so that the bearing member will be cooled and the low pressure liquid will then be delivered by means of the valve through the conduit 162 into the bottom of the drum. The evaporation of the low pressure liquid will produce refrigeration of the drum and the gases will be constantly removed by the compressor 166 to maintain the desired low pressure and rapid refrigeration in the drum. The ends of the drum being firmly insulated substantially all of the refrigeration will be used to chill the peripheral surface and form a layer of ice thereon by means of the constant spraying of water onto the drum. As the layer of ice approaches the top portion of the drum the gang saw will provide peripheral slots or grooves therein. The hot compressed gases delivered by the compressor 166 Will be delivered through the conduit 172 into the chamber 124 so that the surface 126 in contact with the top of the drum will be substantially heated so that the top of the drum will be heated to release the ice from the drum. Any hot gases or condensed gases returning from the chamber 124 will flow through the conduit 174 into the condenser 176 where any gases left will be condensed and delivered as the high pressure refrigerant liquid back to the receiver tank 150. Blades 234 will be heated by means of the heater 240 so that they will cut grooves longitudinally of the drum 54 so that the ice will be grooved first by the gang saws and then by the blades 234 to provide a plurality of cubes which will be lifted from the surface of the drum by means of the blade 250 and delivered to the belt 264 where they will be freed of any excess water.

For simplicity of illustration the chamber 124 is shown as heated by the compressed refrigerant, but obviously steam or other heated fluid could be introduced into the auxiliary chamber 124. Also, the heated chamber 124 could be directly heated by any suitable heater such as an electric heater.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an ice cube machine continuously operated to provide a continuous supply of clear ice cubes in a highly expeditious and etficient manner.

While for purposes of exemplification the presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the true spirit and purpose of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An ice cube machine comprising a substantially cylindrical drum, means for rotating said drum, connections for introducing liquid refrigerant into said drum, a compressor connected to remove gaseous refrigerant from said drum, means for spraying water on the outer surface of said drum, an auxiliary container mounted in said drum, said auxiliary container being in thermoconducting relation with the upper portion of said drum, thermal insulation between said auxiliary container and the refrigerant in said drum, connections between said compressor and said auxiliary container for introducing compressed gaseous refrigerant into said auxiliary container.

2. An ice cube machine comprising a substantially cylindrical drum, means for rotating said drum, connections for introducing refrigerant liquid into said drum, a compressor connected to remove gaseous refrigerant from said drum, means for applying a coating of water on the outer surface of said drum, an auxiliary container mounted in said drum, said auxiliary container being in thermal-conducting relation with the upper portion of said drum, thermal insulation between said auxiliary container and the refrigerant in said drum, connections between said compressor. and said auxiliary container for introducing compressed gaseous refrigerant into said auxiliary container, a gang saw mounted in closely spaced relation to the outer surface of said drum in proximity to said auxiliary chamber.

3. An ice cube machine comprising a substantially cylindrical drum, means for rotating said drum, connections for introducing refrigerant liquid into said drum, a compressor connected to remove gaseous refrigerant from said drum, means for spraying water on the outer surface of said drum, an auxiliary container mounted in said drum, said auxiliary container being in contact with the upper portion of said drum, thermal insulation between said auxiliary container and the refrigerant in said drum, connections for introducing a heated fluid into said auxiliary container, peripheral grooving means 6 mounted in closely spaced relation to the outer surface of said drum in proximity to said auxiliary chamber, a plurality of transverse blades mounted for tangential movement adjacent the top of said drum, and heating means applied to said blades.

4. An ice cube machine comprising a frame, oppositely disposed bearings mounted on said frame, a sub stantially cylindrical member positioned in said frame, shafts extending axially from opposite ends of said member, said shafts being received in said bearings, one of said shafts being substantially tubular, a tubular member journaled in said tubular shaft, a fluid seal between said tubular shaft and said tubular member, said tubular member being non-rotatably secured to said frame, a space filler in said drum, said space filler being rigidly attached to said tubular member, a stub shaft interposed between said space filler and said drum, said stub shaft being coaxial with the shafts extending from said drum, said space filler being closely spaced with respect to the lower portion of said drum, there being an enlarged gas space between the top of said space filler and said drum, a liquid refrigerant receiver, a conduit communicating said receiver with said drum, a compressor, a conduit communicating the space above said space filler with said compressor, means including a condenser communicating said compressor with said receiver, means operative to apply a coating of water on said drum, means for rotating said drum, a gang cutter arranged about an axis parallel to the surface of said drum, said cutter extending in proximity to the surface of the drum, longitudinally arranged grooving members mounted for engagement with the upper portion of said drum, a segmental cylindrical chamber supported in said drum, means maintaining said chamber in contact with the upper portion of said drum, thermal insulation positioned between said chamber and the space in said drum, a

conduit communicating the high pressure outlet of said compressor with said chamber, a conduit communicating said chamber with said condenser.

S. An ice cube machine comprising a frame oppositely disposed bearings mounted on said frame, a substantially cylindrical member positioned in said frame, shafts ex tending axially from opposite 'ends of said member, said shafts being received in said bearings, one of said shafts being substantially tubular, a tubular member journaled in said tubular shaft, a fluid seal between said tubular shaft and said tubular member, said tubular member being non-rotatably secured to said frame, a liquid refrigerant receiver, a conduit communicating said receiver with the interior of said drum, a compressor, a conduit communicating the interior of said drum with said compressor, sprayer means for delivering water on the exterior of said drum, means for rotating said drum, means for removing ice from said drum, an annular space between said tubular shaft and said tubular member, said annular space being connected intermediate the ends of the conduit communicating said receiver with the interior of said drum, pressure regulating means between said receiver and said annular space.

6. An ice cube machine comprising a frame, oppositely disposed bearings mounted on said frame, a substantially cylindrical member positioned in said frame shafts extending axially from opposite ends of said cylindrical member and journaled in said bearings, one of said shafts being substantially tubular, a tubular member journaled in said tubular shaft, a fluid seal between said tubular shaft and said tubular member, said tubular member being non-rotatably secured to said frame, a space filler in said drum, said space filler being rigidly attached to said tubular member, a stub shaft interposed between said space filler and said drum, said stub shaft being coaxial with the shafts extending from said drum, said space filler being closely spaced with respect to the lower portion of said drum, there being anenlarged gas space between the top of said space filler and said drum, a liquid refri erant receiver, a conduit communicating said receiver with said drum, a compressor, a conduit communicating the space above said'space filler with said compressor, means including a condenser communicating said compressor with said receiver, means operative to apply a coating of water on said drum, means for rotating said drum, a gang saw extending in closely spaced relation to the surface of said drum, a pair of endless flexible support members mounted tangential to the top of said drum, said support members being spaced apart, grooving members mounted in spaced relation on said support members, means for heating said grooving members, a chamber mounted in said drum, means for urging said chamber into contact with the top of said drum, thermal insulation interposed between said chamber and the space in said drum, a conduit communicating the output of said compressor with said chamber, a conduit communicating said chamber with said condenser.

7. An ice cube machine comprising a frame, oppositely disposed bearings mounted on said frame, a substantially cylindrical member positioned in said frame, shafts extending axially from opposite ends of said cylindrical member and journaled in said bearings, one of said shafts being substantially tubular, a tubular member journaled in said tubular shaft, a fluid seal between said tubular shaft and said tubular member, said tubular member being non-rotatably secured to said frame, a space filler in said drum, said space filler being rigidly attached to said tubular member, a stub shaft interposed between said space filler and said drum, said stub shaft being coaxial with the shafts extending from said drum, said space filler being closely spaced with respect to the lower portion of said drum, there being an enlarged gas space between the top of said space filler and said drum, a liquid refrigerant receiver, a conduit communicating said receiver with said drum, a compressor, a conduit communicating the space above said space filler with said compressor, means including a condenser communicating said compressor with said receiver, means operative to apply a coating of water on said drum, means for rotating said drum, a peripheral grooving means extending in closely spaced relation to the surface of said drum, a pair of endless flexible support members mounted tangential to the top of said drum, said support members being spaced apart, transverse grooving members mounted in spaced relation on said support members, means for heating said grooving members, a chamber mounted in said drum, means for urging said chamber into contact with the top of said drum, thermal insulation interposed between said chamber and the space in said drum, a conduit communicating with said chamber for delivering hot fluid therein, a blade removing the ice cubes from said drum, a conveyor receiving said ice cubes, said conveyor being of mesh formation to drain water from said ice cubes.

8. In an ice cube machine a grooving device comprising a frame, a pair of shafts mounted in parallel spaced relation in said frame, a pair of spaced sheaves mounted on each of said shafts, flexible carrier elements entrained over opposed sheaves, blade mounting members extending between said carrier elements, outwardly extending blades mounted on said mounting members, and a heater mounted adjacent said carrier elements and adapted to be engaged by said blade mounting members.

9. An ice cube machine comprising a drum, means for rotating said drum, a source of liquid refrigerant, connections for introducing liquid refrigerant into said drum, a pump for exhausting refrigerant from said drum, nozzles for spraying water on the outer surface of said drum, an auxiliary container mounted in said drum, said auxiliary container being in heat transmitting contact with the upper portion of the drum, thermal insulation interposed between said auxiliary container and the refrigerant in said drum, means for heating said auxiliary container, a plurality of peripheral grooving blades mounted on an axis parallel to the axes of the drum, said blades extending in closely spaced relation to the surface of the drum at a point in proximity to said auxiliary chamber, a plurality of blades mounted for movement in a path tangential to the outer surface of the drum at a point in proximity to said auxiliary container, and heating means applied in thermal conducting relation to said blades.

10. An ice cube machine comprising a frame, oppositely disposed bearings mounted on said frame, a substantially cylindrical member positioned in said frame, shafts extending axially from opposite ends of said cylindrical member and journaled in said bearing, one of said shafts being substantially tubular, a tubular member journaled in said tubular shaft, a fluid seal between said tubular shaft and said tubular member, said tubular member being non-rotatably secured to said frame, a space filler in said drum, said space filler being rigidly attached to said tubular member, a stub shaft interposed between said space filler and said drum, said stub shaft being coaxial with the shafts extending from said drum, said space filler being closely spaced with respect to the lower portion of said drum, there being an enlarged gas space between the top of said space filler and said drum, a liquid refrigerant receiver, a conduit communicating said receiver with said drum, a compressor, a conduit communicating the space above said space filler with said compressor, means including a condenser communicating said compressor with said receiver, means operative to apply a coating of Water on said drum, means for rotating said drum, a plurality of peripheral grooving blades arranged about an axis parallel to the surface of said drum, said blades extending in proximity to the surface of the drum, longitudinally arranged grooving members mounted for engagement with the upper portion of said drum, a segmental cylindrical heater supported in said drum, means maintaining said heater in contact with the upper portion of said drum, thermal insulation positioned between said heater and the space in said drum.

11. An ice cube machine comprising a frame, oppositely disposed bearings mounted on said frame, a su stantially cylindrical member positioned in said frame, shafts extending axially from opposite ends of said cy lindrical member and received in said bearings, one of said shafts being substantially tubular, a tubular member journaled in said tubular shaft, a fluid seal between said tubular shaft and said tubular member, said tubular member being non-rotatably secured to said frame, a space filler in said drum, said space filler being rigidly attached to said tubular member, a stub shaft interposed between said space filler and said drum, said stub shaft being coaxial with the shafts extending from said drum, said space filler being-closely spaced with respect to the lower portion of said drum, there being an enlarged gas space between the top of said space filler and said drum, a liquid refrigerant receiver, a conduit communicating said receiver with said drum, a compressor, a conduit communicating the space above said space filler with said compressor, means including a condenser communicating said compressor with said receiver, means operative to apply a coating of water on said drum, means for rotating said drum, peripheral grooving means extending in closely spaced relation to the surface of said drum, a pair of endless flexible support members mounted tangential to the top of said drum, said support members being spaced apart, grooving members mounted in spaced relation on said support members, means for heating said grooving members, a heater mounted in said drum, means for urging said heater into contact with the top of said drum, thermal insulation interposed between said heater and the space in said drum, a blade removing the ice cubes from said drum, a conveyor receiving said ice cubes, said conveyor being of mesh formation to drain water from said ice cubes.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Robertson Aug. 26, 1890, Harris Dec. 5, 1899 Westlake Sept. 18, 1900 Jacobs Apr. 17, 1906 Bennett Apr. 27, 1926' Vanstone Aug. 3, 1926 Brizzolara Apr. 16, 1929 Ernst Dec. '17, 1929 Happel Mar. 10, 1931 Vogt June 16, 1931 Van Buren' Oct. 27, 1931 Gay June 19, 1934 Field June 25, 1935