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An automatic ice vending apparatus including a holding vessel capable of storing a plurality of ice pieces to provide a constant supply of ice over an indeterminate period of time and an ice transferring device designed to transport a portion of the ice pieces through and out of an aperture in the h

An automatic ice vending apparatus including a holding vessel capable of storing a plurality of ice pieces to provide a constant supply of ice over an indeterminate period of time and an ice transferring device designed to transport a portion of the ice pieces through and out of an aperture in the holding vessel, and optionally, an upwardly directional ice transport device operably positioned to transport the ice pieces upwards to a weighing device, whereby the weighing device meters out a portion of ice pieces and deposits the portion into a readily transportable container. Methods of delivering containerized ice in situ are also included.

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What is claimed is: 1. An automated fresh-ice vending apparatus comprising: a holding vessel configured and dimensioned to contain sufficient freshly formed ice pieces to provide a replenishing supply in situ for an indeterminate time; and an ice transferring device positioned in the holding vessel

What is claimed is: 1. An automated fresh-ice vending apparatus comprising: a holding vessel configured and dimensioned to contain sufficient freshly formed ice pieces to provide a replenishing supply in situ for an indeterminate time; and an ice transferring device positioned in the holding vessel and configured and adapted to transport a portion of the fresh ice pieces in a substantially horizontal direction to remove the portion through an aperture of the holding vessel to a weighing device, whereby the weighing device meters out a second portion of fresh ice pieces and deposits the second portion into a readily transportable container. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured and adapted to transfer older ice pieces through the aperture to minimize or avoid ice staleness. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus provides ice pieces while minimizing or avoiding ice agglomerates that form when ice pieces reside adjacent each other for a sufficient time period. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substantially horizontal direction comprises movement of the ice pieces across a portion of the holding vessel to the aperture at an angle of no more than about 20 degrees from the horizontal. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding vessel is chilled to maintain the ice pieces at a temperature of lower than about 34째 F. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ice making device comprising a water source and being operatively associated with the holding vessel to provide the replenishing supply in situ so that ice pieces are automatically produced in situ thereby and disposed in the holding vessel. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the readily transportable containers are fully formed, discrete, plastic bags including an open end that is closed after the metered second portion is deposited therein and including a second permanently closed end. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a fan that operates to blow open the open end of each bag to facilitate filling of the bag with the metered second portion of ice pieces. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a positioning device configured and adapted to position the bag so the open end can receive the metered second portion of ice pieces. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a closing device configured and adapted to releasably fasten each open end to seal each bag. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a downwardly angled surface to facilitate delivery of each filled, sealed, readily transportable container to the consumer. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises an upwardly directional ice transport device operatively positioned and configured to receive the portion of ice pieces from a location adjacent the aperture and to transport the portion in an upwards direction to the weighing device. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ice transferring device further comprises an ice sweep that begins at a starting position and moves in a substantially horizontal direction to facilitate transfer of the portion of the ice pieces to a position outside the holding vessel. 14. An automated ice vending apparatus comprising: a holding vessel configured and dimensioned to contain sufficient ice pieces to provide a supply of ice pieces over an indeterminate time; and an ice transferring device positioned in the holding vessel that comprises an inclined transport mechanism near an end of the holding vessel, which mechanism moves a portion of the ice pieces at an angle comprising a downwardly vertical direction and a horizontal direction toward an aperture and out of the vessel to remove the portion through the aperture to a weighing device, whereby the weighing device is adapted and configured to meter out a second portion of fresh ice pieces and deposit the second portion into a readily transportable container. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transport mechanism comprises a plurality of movable projections disposed transversely to the incline and along the inclined portion thereof to facilitate movement of the ice pieces from the holding vessel through the aperture. 16. A method for automatically delivering a plurality of pre-weighed ice pieces to a consumer using the apparatus of claim 1, which comprises: providing in situ the plurality of loose ice pieces from a water source to the holding vessel; holding a sufficient amount of ice pieces in the holding vessel to provide a constant supply of loose ice pieces; transporting a plurality of ice pieces out of the holding vessel to the weighing device; weighing a pre-selected portion of the ice pieces; and depositing the pre-selected portion of the ice pieces into the readily transportable container. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising opening an end of each readily transportable container to facilitate depositing the portion of ice pieces therein, wherein each container is discrete and separate from other containers and each has a second end that is permanently closed. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising releasably securing an open end of the discrete, readily transportable container. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the releasably securing comprises stapling or tying the open end of the discrete container. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the transporting, weighing, and depositing together occur in about 4 to 20 seconds. 21. The method of claim 16, wherein the providing comprises: freezing water from the water source to provide the pulrality of loose ice pieces; and disposing the plurality of loose ice pieces in the storage zone. 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ice transferring device is in part positioned outside the holding vessel to transport the portion of the fresh ice pieces to the weighing device. 23. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ice transferring device further comprises an upwardly directional ice transport device operatively positioned and configured to receive the portion of ice pieces from a location adjacent the aperture and to transport an amount of the ice pieces in an upwards direction to the weighing device. 24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the angle is a direction of motion of the ice pieces of no more than about 20 degrees from the horizontal.