Ice processing device and apparatus

Abstract

An ice processing device and ice processing apparatus are provided. The ice processing device includes a housing and an auger. The housing includes an inlet opening configured to receive ice into an ice processing chamber. The housing includes a first inner wall and a second inner wall, in which the first inner wall forms a raised surface and the second inner wall forms a smooth surface. The housing includes an outlet opening positioned proximate to the second inner wall. The outlet opening is configured to egress ice from the ice processing chamber. The auger includes an auger wall. The auger is positioned within the housing to form the ice processing chamber between the housing and the auger wall. The auger is configured to direct ice to the first inner wall and the second inner wall at the housing. A plurality of members extends from the housing toward the auger wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice processing device, comprising:
 a housing comprising a side wall and a bottom wall, wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening configured to receive ice into an ice processing chamber within the housing, the housing comprising a first inner wall and a second inner wall, wherein the first inner wall comprises a raised surface and the second inner wall comprises a smooth surface, and wherein the housing comprises an outlet opening positioned proximate to the second inner wall, the outlet opening configured to egress ice from the ice processing chamber;   an auger comprising an auger wall, wherein the auger is positioned within the housing to form the ice processing chamber between the housing and the auger wall, and wherein the auger is configured to direct ice to the first inner wall and the second inner wall at the housing; and   a plurality of members extending from the housing toward the auger wall.   
     
     
         2 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the raised surface at the first inner wall comprises one or more of a wedge, a ridge, a protrusion, a tooth, or a castellation. 
     
     
         3 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first inner wall is positioned above the second inner wall along a height of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first inner wall extends from a top portion of the housing toward a bottom portion of the housing, and wherein the second inner wall extends from the first inner wall toward the bottom portion. 
     
     
         5 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first inner wall forms a crushing zone, and wherein the second inner wall forms a mashing zone. 
     
     
         6 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the auger wall comprises a conical or frustoconical geometry. 
     
     
         7 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of members comprises a brush. 
     
     
         8 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of members comprises a silicone material. 
     
     
         9 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening is positioned through the bottom wall of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening is positioned through the side wall of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The ice processing device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an auger drive shaft coupled to the auger, wherein the auger drive shaft is configured to transmit torque to rotate the auger.   
     
     
         12 . An ice processing apparatus, comprising:
 an ice processing device comprising a housing and an auger, wherein the housing comprises a side wall and a bottom wall, and wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening configured to receive ice into an ice processing chamber within the housing, the housing comprising a first inner wall and a second inner wall, wherein the first inner wall comprises a raised surface and the second inner wall comprises a smooth surface, and wherein the housing comprises an outlet opening positioned proximate to the second inner wall, the outlet opening configured to egress ice from the ice processing chamber, and wherein the auger comprises an auger wall, wherein the auger is positioned within the housing to form the ice processing chamber between the housing and the auger wall, and wherein the auger is configured to direct ice to the first inner wall and the second inner wall at the housing, and wherein a plurality of members extends from the housing toward the auger wall; and   an auger drive shaft coupled to the auger, wherein the auger drive shaft is configured to transmit torque to rotate the auger.   
     
     
         13 . The ice processing apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising:
 a drive unit comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the drive unit forms a channel between the outer wall and the inner wall, the channel configured to direct ice through the inlet opening at the ice processing device.   
     
     
         14 . The ice processing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the drive unit forms a cavity, and wherein the auger drive shaft extends into the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The ice processing apparatus of  claim 14 , comprising:
 a power drive shaft extending into the cavity, wherein the power drive shaft and the auger drive shaft are operably coupled together at a transmission interface within the cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The ice processing apparatus of  claim 15 , comprising:
 an appliance comprising a power unit, wherein the power drive shaft is operably couplable to the power unit to receive power to rotate the auger.   
     
     
         17 . The ice processing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the auger drive shaft extends downward through the bottom wall of the housing to form a transmission interface below the ice processing device. 
     
     
         18 . The ice processing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the raised surface at the first inner wall comprises one or more of a wedge, a ridge, a protrusion, a tooth, or a castellation. 
     
     
         19 . The ice processing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the auger wall comprises a conical or frustoconical geometry. 
     
     
         20 . The ice processing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of members comprises a silicone material.