Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.

An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.

Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.

A refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker (125) includes an ice maker housing (126), an ice making unit (156) for making the ice pieces, a removeable ice bin (135) receiving the ice pieces, and an ice dispenser having a rotatable auger (170) that drives the ice pieces out of the removable ice bin to a bin aperture (168) at the ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A latching assembly is provided at least partially at each of the removeable ice bin and the ice maker housing, and is configured to apply a resisting force to the ice bin at least along a second direction opposite the first direction. The removable ice bin is selectively removable from the ice maker housing by the user applying a removal force greater than the driving force to the ice bin in the first direction.

A refrigeration appliance has an enclosure that defines an electronics module recess and a detachable electronics module that can be releasably retained in the recess. Tabs and tab receivers can be integrated with the electronics module and enclosure to releasably retain the electronics module in the recess. A trim piece can releasably attach to a display bezel of the electronics module by a snap-fit connection to retain the electronics module in the electronics module recess. In use, the electronics module can be selectively removed and a data acquisition device can be connected to the appliance using a data connector that is exposed by removing the electronics module.

An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment; an ice maker provided within the cabinet; a first reservoir provided below the ice maker; a second reservoir provided below the ice storage compartment; and a circulation system in fluid communication with the first reservoir and the second reservoir. The circulation system includes a return line conduit; a first pump connected to the return line conduit to pump the liquid from the second reservoir to the first reservoir; and a cleanout line conduit in fluid communication with the first pump, wherein the first pump selectively pumps the liquid from the second reservoir through the cleanout line conduit.

A stopper of an ice bucket may be for promptly stopping withdrawal of ice when a command for withdrawal of ice from the ice bucket is stopped. The stopper may be configured such that a plunger enters a rotation trajectory of a blade, at a time when the plunger needs to be moved so as to promptly stop the blade by the plunger.

A collapsible and expandable ice dispensing tubing apparatus having a first end and an opposite second end, the apparatus comprising: a hollow flexible body having a first opening formed at the first end and an opposite second opening formed at the second end, the body comprising a sheath and at least one reinforcing member for communication through the body from the first opening to the second opening; a first collar formed on the body at the first end and an opposite second collar formed on the body at the second end; and a fastener configured to selectively engage the first and second collars so as to selectively maintain the apparatus in a collapsed configuration. The apparatus may be employed in conjunction with other devices for selectively dispensing ice from an ice dispensing machine into a container.

A structure of an ice making compartment of a side by side type refrigerator to enhance ice making efficiency and to reduce energy consumption. The ice making compartment may be separately provided between a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment and be insulated from the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. A portion of a refrigerant pipe is inserted into the inside of the ice making compartment so as to directly cool down the ice making compartment. A front opening of the ice making compartment can be closed by an ice bucket, and the ice bucket can be inserted into or drawn from the ice making compartment with being accessible without opening a refrigerating compartment door and a freezing compartment door.

A refrigerator has an ice bin that can break ice piece agglomerates therein. The ice bin includes a breaking unit rotatably installed in a discharge port of the ice bin, the breaking unit including a stationary blade and rotatable blade. The ice bin also includes a separation blade rotatably installed parallel the breaking unit and configured to strike and separate ice pieces agglomerates into smaller pieces for discharging.