Frozen beverage maker

Abstract

A frozen beverage maker is described comprising a housing, a mixing container for mixing a beverage product, and a flexible seal. The housing includes an upper housing section and a lever movable relative to the upper housing section between a coupled position and a non-coupled position. The flexible seal is between the upper housing section and the mixing container. The lever couples the mixing container to the upper housing section when in the coupled position and separates the mixing container from the upper housing section when in the uncoupled position. The mixing container is sealed against the upper housing section by the flexible seal when the lever is in the coupled position.

Description

[0001] Related Application Cross-Reference

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 415,817, filed January 18, 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a beverage maker, and more particularly to a frozen beverage maker that includes a mixing container that is removably connectable, the mixing container configured to be easily installed and removed from the frozen beverage maker with minimal user effort. BACKGROUND

[0004] Frozen beverage makers, which can also be referred to as semi-frozen beverage makers or slush beverage makers, generally include a transparent jug or mixing container in which a beverage product is received and processed, including cooling, often transforming the beverage product from a pure liquid (or a combination of liquid and a portion of ice) to a frozen or semi-frozen product, such as a slush, a snow-cone beverage, a smoothie, an ice cream or other frozen or semi-frozen product, which is then dispensed. The cooled product is generally dispensed through a spigot, tap or dispenser located near the front and bottom of the container. Thus, the term “frozen beverage maker” as used herein is not limited to a device that only makes beverages or frozen beverages, but includes a device that cools a received beverage product to produce a cooled output in any of a variety of frozen and semi-frozen forms. The beverage product is generally composed of a mixture of water or milk, a syrup flavoring powder or other additives that impart a desired taste and color to the beverage product.

[0005] Some existing frozen beverage makers include a mixing system within the mixing container having mixing blades or augers that are rotated by a motor via a drive shaft and drive assembly. Some existing frozen beverage makers include a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator (i.e., a chiller) for receiving refrigerant from the compressor, with the evaporator located near or within the mixing container to cool the beverage product during processing.

[0006] Some existing frozen beverage makers include a controller that controls the operation of the frozen beverage maker related to making the beverage product, including the temperature of the frozen food product during processing. SUMMARY

[0007] In various embodiments, the present application addresses deficiencies associated with prior frozen beverage makers that include a commercial snowball machine container, such as reducing the force required to install and remove the mixing container from the device. A unique lever is described that provides useful mechanical advantages that allow a user to easily and safely couple the mixing container to an upper housing of the frozen beverage maker with only one hand, if desired. The lever is configured to move relative to the upper housing between an uncoupled position and a coupled position. When the lever is in the coupled position, the mixing container is sealed against the upper housing section by a flexible seal. The flexible seal can include a face seal that interfaces a vertically aligned surface of the upper housing section to a vertically aligned side of the mixing container. The flexible seal can include a container sealing portion configured to create a water-tight seal between the mixing container and the upper housing section, and an evaporator sealing portion configured to seal an evaporator within the mixing container. When the lever is moved to the uncoupled position, the lever separates the mixing container from the upper housing section. The lever can include a cam feature that provides significant compression. The present application describes illustrative systems, methods, and devices that permit the mixing container to be easily installed and removed from the frozen beverage maker in a more adaptive and user-friendly manner.

[0008] In some aspects, a frozen beverage maker is described. The frozen beverage maker includes a housing, a mixing container for mixing a beverage product, and a flexible seal. The housing includes an upper housing section and a lever movable relative to the upper housing section between a coupled position and an uncoupled position. The flexible seal is between the upper housing section and the mixing container. The lever couples the mixing container to the upper housing section when in the coupled position and separates the mixing container from the upper housing section when in the uncoupled position. When the lever is in the coupled position, the mixing container is sealed against the upper housing section by the flexible seal.

[0009] In selected embodiments, the mixing container has a substantially cylindrical shape, a base having an opening formed therein, and the opening is sealed by a flexible seal when the lever is in the coupled position. In these and other embodiments, the opening is substantially circular. The opening can be positioned to face horizontally when the lever is in the coupled position. The flexible seal can include a face seal that interfaces a vertically aligned surface of the upper housing segment to a vertically aligned side of the mixing container. In selected embodiments, the lever includes a handle that enables a user to move the lever between the coupled position and the uncoupled position. In these and other embodiments, the handle is positioned closer to the upper housing segment when in the coupled position than when in the uncoupled position. In some such embodiments, the handle moves less than 90° relative to the upper housing segment when moved between the coupled position and the uncoupled position. In selected embodiments, movement of the handle to move the lever into the coupled position activates a cam in the upper housing segment that engages a mating feature on the mixing container to secure the mixing container to the upper housing segment. In these and other embodiments, the cam further includes an ejection feature to apply an ejection force to the mixing container when the lever is moved from the coupled position to the uncoupled position. In selected embodiments, the frozen beverage maker further includes a drive motor and an interlock switch positioned within the upper housing segment and configured to be activated and permit action of the drive motor when the mixing container is coupled to the housing. In various embodiments, the lever is rotatably coupled to the upper housing segment.

[0010] In some aspects, methods of producing a frozen beverage using a frozen beverage maker apparatus are described. The frozen beverage maker apparatus includes a housing, a mixing container, and a flexible seal. The housing includes an upper housing segment and a lever movable relative to the upper housing segment between a coupled position and an uncoupled position. The mixing container is arranged to be coupled to the upper housing segment. The flexible seal is positioned between the upper housing segment and the mixing container. The lever includes a handle that is movable to place the lever in the coupled position and / or the uncoupled position. When the lever is in the coupled position, the mixing container is sealed against the upper housing segment by the flexible seal. The method includes coupling the mixing container to the upper housing segment by moving the handle relative to the upper housing segment to place the lever in the coupled position, operating the frozen beverage maker apparatus to produce a frozen beverage, and decoupling the mixing container from the upper housing segment by moving the handle relative to the upper housing segment to place the lever in the uncoupled position.

[0011] In some embodiments, coupling the mixing container to the upper housing section involves moving the handle toward the upper housing section. In these and other embodiments, decoupling the mixing container from the upper housing section involves moving the handle away from the upper housing section and / or toward the front of the housing. In some embodiments, moving the handle relative to the upper housing section to place the lever in the coupled position is accomplished with one hand. In these and other embodiments, moving the handle relative to the upper housing section to place the lever in the uncoupled position is accomplished with one hand.

[0012] In yet another aspect, a frozen beverage maker is described that includes a housing, a mixing container for mixing a beverage product, and a flexible seal. The housing includes an upper housing section and a coupling mechanism movable relative to the upper housing section between a coupled position and an uncoupled position. The flexible seal is positioned between the upper housing section and the mixing container. The coupling mechanism couples the mixing container to the upper housing section when in the coupled position and decouples the mixing container from the upper housing section when in the uncoupled position. The mixing container is sealed against an upper portion of the housing by the flexible seal when the coupling mechanism is in the coupled position.

[0013] A person of ordinary skill will recognize that the systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be adapted for use with other types of food products, such as making and / or processing (without limitation) ice cream, frozen yogurt, other dairy creams, and the like. While the present disclosure describes examples of beverage makers that process various frozen and / or semi-frozen beverage products, the systems, apparatus, and methods described herein are not limited to such beverage products and are capable of processing and / or making other types of beverage products, such as cold beverage products and / or chilled beverage products. The terms "mixing," "mixed," or "mixing" as used herein are not limited to combining multiple ingredients together, but also include mixing a beverage product or liquid having a single ingredient or no added ingredients. For example, a beverage product can consist of only water that is mixed by the agitator during processing, i.e., portions of water that are agitated and / or blended as the agitator rotates. This can advantageously result in a more uniform temperature of the water and / or liquid throughout the mixing container, for example, by mixing portions of water and / or liquid having different temperatures.

[0014] These and other structural advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and reviewing the associated drawings in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] The disclosure will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 A perspective view of a frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0017] Figure 2 An embodiment according to this disclosure is shown. Figure 1 A view of the housing and various internal components within the mixing container of a frozen beverage making machine;

[0018] Figure 3 Some embodiments according to this disclosure are shown. Figure 1 Front view of a frozen beverage making machine;

[0019] Figure 4 It is based on some implementation schemes of this disclosure. Figure 1 A block diagram of an example control system for a frozen beverage manufacturing machine;

[0020] Figure 5A Some embodiments according to this disclosure are shown. Figure 1 A side view of a frozen beverage making machine, in which the mixing container is in a connected position relative to the upper shell section;

[0021] Figure 5B Some embodiments according to this disclosure are shown. Figure 5A The image shows a side view of a frozen beverage making machine, with some features of the housing and levers shown in partial cross-section;

[0022] Figure 6 A detailed view of a lever having a cam for coupling a mixing container to a housing of a frozen beverage making machine is shown according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 7A A rear view of a mixing container according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0024] Figure 7B A perspective view of the rear of a mixing container according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0025] Figure 8 A perspective view of a flexible seal according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0026] Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of a flexible seal according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0027] Figure 10 A flowchart is shown illustrating a method of using the disclosed frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to some embodiments of this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 11A and 11B An embodiment according to this disclosure is shown.Figure 1 Perspective view of a condensate collection tray of a frozen beverage maker according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 11C An insert into a frozen beverage maker according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown Figure 1 A collection tray of the frozen beverage maker of Figure 11A and 11B is shown;

[0030] Figure 11D A frozen beverage maker of Figure 1 is shown, with the collection tray removed, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 12 is a flowchart of a method of removing the collection tray of Figure 1 A frozen beverage maker according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 11A and 11B is shown;

[0032] Figure 13A An isometric view of a frozen beverage maker with a mixing container having at least one internal baffle according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0033] Figure 13B A cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of the frozen beverage maker shown in Figure 13A is shown;

[0034] Figure 13C A cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of the frozen beverage maker shown in Figure 13A is shown;

[0035] Figure 14A A rear isometric view of a mixing container for a frozen beverage maker having three internal baffles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0036] Figure 14B A rear view of the mixing container shown in Figure 14A is shown;

[0037] Figure 14C A front isometric view of the mixing container shown in Figure 14A is shown;

[0038] Figure 15 is a close-up view of a user interface according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 16 is a graph of coarse and fine temperature settings according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0040] Figure 17is a close-up view of another user interface according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0041] Figure 18 is a graph of temperature values associated with an automatic recipe temperature target temperature and a manual temperature adjustment;

[0042] Figure 19 is a graph of drive motor current and temperature versus time while a frozen beverage maker of Figure 1 is processing a beverage product;

[0043] Figure 20 is a flowchart of a process for making a chilled beverage product using a food type for initial or coarse temperature and / or texture control and then using user input to subsequently fine tune the temperature and / or texture of the beverage product;

[0044] Figure 21 is a flowchart of a process for automatically detecting when the drive motor current is too high and / or the beverage product is too thick, and in response, adjusting the temperature of the beverage product to reduce the drive motor current and / or increasing the temperature of the beverage product to reduce the thickness of the beverage product;

[0045] Figure 22A shows an embodiment of a dual-purpose cooling fan within a housing of a beverage maker;

[0046] Figure 22B shows another embodiment of a dual-purpose cooling fan within a housing of a beverage maker;

[0047] Figure 22C shows a perspective view of Figure 22B a dual-purpose cooling fan;

[0048] Figure 23 is a flowchart of a process for operating a dual-purpose fan;

[0049] Figure 24A shows a perspective view of a sample pour-in opening for a chilled beverage maker according to some embodiments of the disclosure;

[0050] Figure 24B shows a front view of the pour-in opening shown in Figure 24A ;

[0051] Figure 24C shows a left perspective view of the pour-in opening shown in Figure 24A ;

[0052] Figure 25 shows a perspective view of a sample cover for a pour-in opening according to some embodiments of the disclosure;

[0053] Figure 26A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0054] Figure 27A A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0055] Figure 27B A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 27A An isometric view of a prototype of a pour-in opening of

[0056] Figure 27C A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 27B A side view of a prototype of a pour-in opening in

[0057] Figure 27D A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 27B A photograph of a prototype of a pour-in opening shown in

[0058] Figure 28 A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0059] Figures 29A to 29D A dispensing assembly for dispensing a beverage product from a frozen beverage maker is shown in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0060] Figures 30A to 30B A dispensing assembly for dispensing a beverage product from a frozen beverage maker is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0061] Figure 31A A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 31B A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; Figures 29A to 29D A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; Figures 30A to 30B A perspective view of a sample pour-in opening is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] In the following description, like components have like reference numbers throughout the drawings, regardless of whether the drawings are cross-sectional, schematic, or schematic-isometric. The drawings can not be to scale and certain structural features can be shown in slightly schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present disclosure can describe and / or illustrate a structure in one embodiment and describe and / or illustrate the structure in the same manner or in a similar manner and / or in conjunction with or in place of a structure of other embodiments.

[0063] In the description and claims, the terms "about" and "substantially" for the purposes of describing and defining the application indicate an allowable degree of error for any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation that is inherent to the nature of the quantity. Furthermore, the terms "about" and "substantially" indicate that a quantitative representation can differ from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter addressed. Open-ended terms such as "comprising," "including," and / or the like, include the listed parts, and can include additional parts that are not listed, while terms such as "and / or" include one or more of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts. The use of the terms "top," "bottom," "above," "below," and the like, is merely to facilitate the clear description of the present disclosure and does not in any way limit the structure, positioning, and / or operation of the present disclosure.

[0064] In various embodiments, the present application addresses deficiencies associated with existing commercial snow machines. Unfortunately, the architecture of existing commercial snow machines often requires a significant amount of force to seat a container over a large radial seal, making it challenging for a user to mount and dismount the container from the device. In many existing commercial snow machines, the container is mounted by engaging a snap to hold the container, which strains the plastic to properly position the container and requires a significant amount of user effort. Accordingly, there is a need for a more user-friendly architecture to mount and dismount a container of a frozen beverage maker, such as a lever that can be used to couple and decouple the container from a housing of the frozen beverage maker with minimal force and / or requires the use of only one hand.

[0065] Figure 1 A perspective view of a frozen beverage maker 100 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The frozen beverage maker 100 includes a housing 102 and a mixing container 104. The housing 102 can include a user interface 112 for receiving user input to control the frozen beverage maker 100 and / or output or display information. The user interface 112 can include one or more buttons, dials, switches, touchscreens, indicators, LEDs, and the like. The user interface 112 can display status information including, for example, a temperature of a beverage product within the mixing container 104, an indicator of a recipe and / or program that is currently being implemented, a timer associated with the progress of a recipe and / or program that is in progress and / or currently being implemented. The user interface 112 can provide an indicator and / or warning to a user regarding, for example, when a recipe is complete or when a user is expected to perform an action associated with processing a beverage product. The user interface 112 can include a selectable menu of beverage types (e.g., recipes) and / or programs for different types of beverage products, such as, but not limited to, slush, smoothie, margarita, daiquiri, pina colada, snow cone, cocktail, shaved ice beverage, juice, dairy, milkshake, granita, semi-frozen beverage, frozen beverage, and the like.

[0066] The housing 102 may include a panel (e.g., a removable panel) 114 along one side of the housing 102. The panel 114 may include multiple openings that facilitate airflow to help cool the components within the housing 102. The housing 102 may include an upper housing section 122 arranged to engage with the rear end of the mixing container 104 when attached to the housing 102. The mixing container 104 may include a wall or a portion thereof that is transparent, allowing an observer to see the beverage product within the mixing container 104 during processing. The mixing container 104 may include a pouring opening 106, whereby the mixing container 104 can receive ingredients for processing the beverage product within the mixing container 104. Figure 1 A pouring opening 106 is shown in a closed configuration with a lid that seals the opening 106. The lid may be removable or movable to open or close the opening 106. The pouring opening 106 may include a grille that prevents the user from accessing the mixing container 104 when the pouring opening 106 is open, i.e., without a lid. The mixing container 104 may include a dispenser assembly 108 having a user handle 120, a nozzle (not shown), and a nozzle guard and / or lid 116. The dispenser assembly 108 allows the user to open the nozzle, which is attached to the wall of the mixing container 104, by pulling up or down the handle 120 to dispense processed (e.g., cooled) beverage product from the mixing container 104. The user can also dispense the beverage product by pushing the handle 120 back to its upright position. Figure 1 (As shown in the image) to close the nozzle, thereby stopping the dispensing of the processed beverage product.

[0067] The frozen beverage machine 100 may include a coupling mechanism that allows the mixing container 104 to be securely coupled to the housing 102, including the upper housing section 122. In some embodiments, the coupling mechanism is a lever 110 rotatably coupled to the upper housing section 122. Figure 1 A lever 110 is shown in the engaged, locked, and / or closed position, whereby the mixing container 104 is engaged (e.g., attached to, latched to, and / or locked to) the housing 102 and the upper housing section 122. In the engaged position, the lever 110 ensures a watertight seal to prevent beverage product from leaking from the mixing container 104. The lever 110 can be placed in the engaged position by sliding the mixing container 104 against the upper housing section 122 and then rotating the lever 110 clockwise until its handle rests on or around the top surface of the upper housing section 122. It can also be rotated counterclockwise (from...) Figure 1towards the front of the mixing container 104, which causes the lever 110 to release the mixing container 104 from the housing 102 and the upper housing section 122. Once released and / or separated, the mixing container 104 can be slid in a forward direction (away from the upper housing section 122) to be fully detached and / or removed from the housing 102.

[0068] A flexible seal (not shown in Figure 8 between the mixing container 104 and the upper housing section 122. The flexible seal can include a face seal portion and / or a radial seal portion. The face seal portion, if present, can provide an improved seal based on compression provided by the lever 110 pushing the mixing container 104 laterally against the wall of the upper housing section 122. The mixing container 104 can have a substantially cylindrical shape with a base having an opening formed therein and sealed by the flexible seal when the lever 110 is in the coupled position. An interlock switch can be implemented at the upper housing section 122 that is activated when the mixing container 104 is coupled to the upper housing section 122, which prevents activation of the drive motor 208 unless the container 104 is coupled to the upper housing section 122. This ensures that the user is not exposed to the moving agitator 204. The frozen beverage maker 100 can also include a drip tray 118 positioned below the dispenser assembly 108 and arranged to collect any beverage product that is not properly dispensed from the mixing container 104 to, for example, a user cup. The drip tray 118 can be removably attached from its operating position as shown in Figure 1 . For example, the water tray 118 can be mounted and / or stored on a side panel of the housing 102 as shown in Figure 3 . For example, the water tray 118 can be mounted and / or stored on a side panel of the housing 102 as shown in

[0069] Figure 2 A view of the various internal components within the housing 102 and mixing container 104 of the frozen beverage maker 100 is shown in Figure 1 . The frozen beverage maker 100 includes a cylindrical evaporator 202 that is surrounded by an auger and / or agitator 204. The agitator 204 can include one or more mixing blades and / or protrusions that extend in a helix around the evaporator and / or chiller 202. The agitator 204 can be driven to rotate by a central drive shaft rod (not shown) within the mixing container 104. The drive shaft rod can be surrounded by the evaporator 202. However, in various embodiments, the evaporator 202 does not rotate. The drive shaft rod can be coupled to a drive motor 208 via a gear assembly 210. In some embodiments, the drive motor 208 is an AC motor, but another type of motor can be used, such as but not limited to a DC motor. The drive motor 208 can include a motor fan 212 arranged to provide air cooling for the motor 208. While the motor fan 212 is shown as being located on the motor 208, in various embodiments, the motor fan 212 can be located on the gear assembly 210.Figure 2 An embodiment is shown in which the drive motor 208 is not coaxially aligned with the drive shaft rod for rotating the agitator 204, but in other embodiments, the motor 208 can be coaxially aligned with the drive shaft rod. During processing of the beverage product, the motor 208 can continuously operate at one or more speeds to drive continuous rotation of the agitator 204, and thereby provide continuous mixing of the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104. In some embodiments, rotation of the agitator 204 causes the helically arranged blades to push the chilled beverage product to the front of the mixing vessel 104. During processing, portions of the beverage product can freeze on the surface of the evaporator due to being cooled by the evaporator. In some embodiments, the blades of the rotating agitator 204 scrape the frozen portions of the beverage product from the surface evaporator, while mixing the chilled beverage product and pushing the chilled beverage product toward the front of the mixing vessel 104.

[0070] The frozen beverage maker 100 can include a refrigeration circuit and / or system to provide cooling of the beverage product and / or control the temperature of the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104. The refrigeration circuit can include a compressor 214, an evaporator 202, a condenser 216, a condenser fan 218, a bypass valve, and conduits carrying refrigerant in a closed loop between the refrigeration circuit components to facilitate cooling and / or temperature control of the beverage product in the mixing vessel 104. Operation of the refrigeration circuit can be controlled by the controller, for example by the controller 402, as described later herein with respect to FIG. 4. Figure 4 The frozen beverage maker 100 can also include a condensation collection tray 220 arranged to collect any liquid condensation resulting from cooling from the evaporator 202. Figure 2 The tray 220 is shown in an inserted position. The tray 220 can be removably removed from a slot within the housing 102 to be able to collect condensation liquid when inserted into the slot and then effectively removed to an empty tray 220, which is then reinserted into the slot for subsequent liquid collection.

[0071] Figure 3 A front view of the frozen beverage maker 100 of Figure 1 The frozen beverage maker 100 can include a user interface 112 on the front surface of the housing 102. In other embodiments, the user interface 112 can be located on a side, top, or back of the housing 102. The frozen beverage maker can include a mount 302 on a side of the housing 102, where the drip tray 118 is removable when not in use (between processing of beverage products) to clean the drip tray 118 and / or to replace the drip tray 118. Figure 3shown as a drip tray 304) mounted at the mount, for example, during shipping of the frozen beverage maker 100. The frozen beverage maker 100 can include a power interface arranged to receive AC power from an electrical outlet (not shown). In some embodiments, the frozen beverage maker 100 can include one or more batteries housed within the housing 102 and arranged to provide power to various components of the frozen beverage maker 100. The frozen beverage maker 100 can also include a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 222 within the housing 102. As will be explained with respect to Figure 4 the PCBA 222 can include a control system 400 arranged to automatically control certain operations of the frozen beverage maker 100.

[0072] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system 400 of a frozen beverage maker 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The control system 400 can include a microcontroller, processor, system on a chip (SoC), client device, and / or physical computing device, and can include hardware and / or virtual processors. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 4 the control system 400 and elements thereof each relate to physical hardware, while in some embodiments, one, more, or all elements can be implemented using an emulator or virtual machine. Regardless, the electronic control system 400 can be implemented on physical hardware, for example, in the frozen beverage maker 100.

[0073] Also as shown in Figure 4 the control system 400 can include a user interface 212 and / or 112 having, for example, a keyboard, keypad, one or more buttons, dials, touchpad, or sensor readouts (e.g., biometric scanners), and one or more output devices, such as a display, speaker for audio, LED indicators, and / or light indicators. The control system 400 can also include a communication interface 410, such as a network communication unit that can include wired and / or wireless communication components, which can be communicatively coupled to the controller and / or processor 402. The network communication unit can utilize any of a variety of proprietary or standardized network protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP / IP, to name a few of many protocols, to enable communication between the processor 402 and another device, network, or system. The network communication unit can also include one or more transceivers utilizing Ethernet, power line communication (PLC), Wi-Fi, cellular, and / or other communication methods. For example, the control system 400 can send one or more communications associated with a status of the frozen beverage maker 100 to a user’s mobile device, such as an alert to the mobile device when a recipe is complete and / or a beverage product is ready for dispensing, or indicating that a mixing vessel is low or out of beverage product.

[0074] The control system 400 can include processing elements, such as a controller and / or processor 402, containing one or more hardware processors, where each hardware processor can have a single or multiple processor cores. In one embodiment, the processor 402 includes at least one shared cache that stores data (e.g., computational instructions) utilized by one or more other components of the processor 402. For example, the shared cache can be a local cache data stored in memory for faster access by the components of the processing elements that make up the processor 402. Examples of processors include, but are not limited to, central processing units (CPUs) and / or microprocessors. The controller and / or processor 402 can utilize computer architectures based on, but not limited to 8051 architecture, 68HCX, Figure 4 80X86, and the like. The processor 402 can include, but is not limited to, 8-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, or 64-bit architectures. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the processing elements that make up the processor 402 can also include one or more other types of hardware processing components, such as graphics processing units (GPUs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or digital signal processors (DSPs).

[0075] Figure 4The memory 404 is also shown operatively and communicatively coupled to the controller 402. The memory 404 can be a non-transitory medium configured to store various types of data. For example, the memory 404 can include one or more storage devices 408 including non-volatile storage devices and / or volatile memory. Volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), can be any suitable non-persistent memory. The non-volatile storage devices 408 can include one or more disk drives, optical drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), tape drives, flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), and / or any other type of memory designed to maintain data for a duration of time after a power off or shut down operation. In certain configurations, the non-volatile storage devices 408 can be used to store overflow data if the allocated RAM is insufficient for storing all working data. The non-volatile storage devices 408 can also be used to store programs which are loaded into the RAM when such programs are selected for execution. The data storage area and / or storage devices 408 can be arranged to store a plurality of beverage product making and / or processing instruction programs associated with a plurality of beverage product processing sequences (i.e., recipes). Such beverage making and / or processing instruction programs can include instructions for the controller and / or processor 402 to start or stop one or more motors and / or compressors 414 (e.g., such as the motor 208 and / or compressor 214), start or stop the compressor 214 to regulate the temperature of the beverage product being processed within the mixing vessel 104, operate one or more motors 414 (e.g., the motor 208 and / or compressor 214) for certain periods of time during a particular beverage product processing sequence, operate the motor 208 at certain speeds during certain periods of time of a recipe, issue one or more prompt instructions to the user interface 412 and / or 112 that are output to the user for an illegal response, action, and / or input from the user.

[0076] As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, software programs can be developed, coded, and compiled for various software platforms and / or operating systems in various computing languages, and then loaded and executed by the processor 402. In one embodiment, the compilation process of the software programs can transform program code written in one programming language to another computer language so that the processor 402 is able to execute the program code. For example, the compilation process of the software programs can generate an executable program that provides encoded instructions (e.g., machine code instructions) for the processor 402 to implement specific, non-generic, particular computing functions.

[0077] After the compilation process, the encoded instructions can be loaded from the storage 408, from the memory 404, to the processor 402, and / or embedded within the processor 402 (e.g., via a cache or on-board ROM) as computer-executable instructions or process steps. The processor 402 can be configured to execute the stored instructions or process steps in order to execute the instructions or process steps to transform the electronic control system 400 into a specific, specially programmed machine or apparatus that is not general purpose. Stored data, such as data stored by the data store and / or storage 408, can be accessed by the processor 402 during execution of the computer-executable instructions or process steps to indicate one or more components within the control system 400 and / or other components or devices external to the system 400. For example, a recipe can be arranged in a lookup table and / or database within the data store 408 and accessed by the processor 402 when executing a particular recipe selected by a user via the user interface 412 and / or 112.

[0078] The user interface 412 and / or 112 can include a display, a position input device (e.g., a mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, or the like), a keyboard, a keypad, one or more buttons, one or more dials, a microphone, a speaker, or other forms of user input and output devices. The user interface components can be communicatively coupled to the processor 402. When the user interface output device is or includes a display, the display can be implemented in various ways, including by a liquid crystal display (LCD) or cathode ray tube (CRT) or light emitting diode (LED) display, such as an OLED display.

[0079] The sensors 406 can include one or more sensors that detect and / or monitor conditions of the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104, conditions associated with components of the frozen beverage maker 100, and / or conditions of the refrigerant within the refrigeration system. Conditions can include, but are not limited to, rotation, rotational speed and / or movement of a device or component (e.g., a motor), rate of such movement, frequency of such movement, direction of such movement, motor current, motor voltage, motor power, motor torque, temperature, pressure, fluid content in the vessel 104, position of a device or component (e.g., whether the pour opening 106 is open or closed), and / or presence of a device or component (e.g., whether the shroud 116 is installed). Types of sensors can include, for example, electrical metrology chips, Hall sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, optical sensors, current sensors, torque sensors, voltage sensors, cameras, other types of sensors, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The frozen beverage maker 100 can include one or more temperature sensors positioned at various locations within the mixing vessel 104, for example, on or around a lower front region within the mixing vessel 104, on or around an upper front region within the mixing vessel 104, on or around an upper rear region within the vessel 104, within one or more coils of the evaporator 202, and / or within the housing 102.

[0080] The sensors 406 can also include one or more safety and / or interlock switches that prevent or enable operation of certain components, for example, a motor, when certain conditions are met (e.g., enable activation of the motor 208 and / or 414 when a lid or shroud for the opening 106 is attached or closed and / or when there is a sufficient amount of beverage product in the vessel 104). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the electronic control system 400 can include other components not explicitly shown in FIG. 4, for example, a power supply and / or an analog-to-digital converter, which are well known in the art. Figure 4

[0081] ​In some embodiments, the controller 400 and / or processor 402 includes a SoC having a plurality of hardware components, including but not limited to: a microcontroller, microprocessor, or digital signal processor (DSP) core and / or a multi-processor SoC (MPSoC) having more than one processor core; a memory block including a series of read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and flash memory; a timing source including an oscillator and phase-locked loop; peripherals including counter timers, real-time timers, and power-on reset generators; external interfaces including industry standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire, Ethernet, Universal Synchronous / Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter (USART), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), and the like; analog interfaces including analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs); and voltage regulators and power management circuitry.

[0082] The SoC includes the hardware described above, as well as software that controls the microcontroller, microprocessor, and / or DSP core, peripherals, and interfaces. Most SoCs are developed from pre-certified hardware blocks of hardware elements (e.g., referred to as modules or components, which represent IP cores or IP blocks), as well as software drivers that control their operation. The above list of hardware elements is not exhaustive. A SoC can include protocol stacks that drive industry-standard interfaces, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB).

[0083] Once the overall architecture of the SoC has been defined, individual hardware elements can be described in an abstract language called RTL, which stands for register transfer level. RTL is used to define circuit behavior. Hardware elements are connected together in the same RTL language, resulting in a complete SoC design. In digital circuit design, RTL is a design abstraction that models synchronous digital circuits in terms of digital signals (data) flowing between hardware registers and the logical operations performed upon those signals. The RTL abstraction is used in hardware description languages (HDLs) like Verilog and VHDL to create a high-level representation of a circuit from which lower-level representations and ultimately actual wiring can be derived. The RTL level of design is a typical practice in modern digital design. Verilog was standardized as Institute of Electrical and Engineers (IEEE) 1364 and is an HDL used to model electronic systems. Verilog is most commonly used for the design and verification of digital circuits at the RTL abstraction level. Verilog can also be used to verify analog and mixed-signal circuits, as well as for the design of genetic circuits. In some embodiments, the various components of the control system 400 are implemented on a PCB, such as the PCB 222.

[0084] In operation in certain embodiments, a user fills the mixing container 104 with ingredients associated with a beverage product via the pour opening 106. The user selects a type of beverage product to be processed via the user interface 112, e.g., the user selects a recipe for a “Margarita.” In some embodiments, the user selects the product type and / or recipe prior to filling the mixing container 104, and the user interface 112 provides one or more indicators or queues (visible and / or audible) instructing the user to add ingredients to the mixing container 104. The mixing container 104 can include one or more fill sensors that detect when there is a sufficient amount or volume of ingredients and / or fluid within the mixing container 104. The one or more fill sensors can provide signals to the processor 402 indicating when the container 104 is sufficiently filled or not filled. If the fill sensor 406 indicates that the container 104 is not sufficiently filled, the processor 402 can prevent operation of the frozen beverage maker 100 (e.g., prevent activation of the motor 208 and / or other components). A lid sensor can be associated with the opening 106, whereby the lid sensor sends open and / or closed signals to the processor 402 indicating whether the opening 106 is open or closed. If the lid sensor indicates that the opening 106 is open and / or not closed, the processor 402 can prevent operation of the frozen beverage maker 100. Depending on the sensed condition, the user interface 112 can provide an indication of the condition, e.g., the container 104 is sufficiently filled or not sufficiently filled and / or the opening 106 is not closed, to enable the user to take appropriate action.

[0085] Once the mixing container 104 is filled with ingredients, the user can provide an input, e.g., a button press, to begin processing the beverage product based on the selected recipe. The processing can include activating the motor 208 to drive rotation of the agitator 204 and / or blade 206 to effect mixing of the ingredients of the beverage product. The processing can also include activating the refrigeration system, including activating the compressor 214 and condenser fan 218. The compressor 214 facilitates flow of refrigerant through the one or more coils of the evaporator 202 and through the condenser 216 to provide cooling and / or temperature control of the beverage product within the mixing container 104. The processor 402 can control operation of various components, e.g., the motor 208 and the compressor 214. To adjust the temperature at the particular settings associated with the recipe, the processor 402 can activate / start and / or deactivate / stop the compressor 214 to start and / or stop flow of refrigerant through the coils of the evaporator 202, and thereby start or stop cooling of the beverage product within the mixing container 104.

[0086] By cooling the beverage product to a particular temperature, slush and / or ice particles can be formed within the beverage product. Generally, the amount of particles and / or texture of the beverage product corresponds to the temperature of the beverage product, i.e., the lower the temperature, the greater the amount of particles (and / or the larger the size of the particles) and / or the more viscous the beverage product. The user interface 112 can enable the user to fine tune and / or adjust the preset temperature associated with the recipe to enable the user to adjust the temperature and / or texture of the beverage product to a more desirable temperature and / or texture.

[0087] The processor 402 can perform the processing of the beverage product in one or more stages and / or for a set period of time until a desired temperature and / or texture is determined. The processor 402 can receive one or more temperature signals from one or more temperature sensors 408 within the mixing vessel 104 to determine the temperature of the beverage product. The processor 402 can determine the temperature of the beverage product by determining an average temperature of the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors 408. The processor 402 can determine the temperature of the beverage product based on the detected temperature from one sensor 408 within the mixing vessel 104 and / or based on the temperature of the refrigerant detected by the refrigerant temperature sensor 408. Once the stages and / or sequence of the recipe are completed by the processor 402, the processor 402 can provide a visual and / or audio indication via the user interface 116 that the recipe is complete and ready for dispensing. In response, the user can place a cup or container under the dispenser assembly 108 and pull the handle 120 downwardly toward the user to open the spout located at the lower front wall of the mixing vessel 104 to dispense the beverage product into the cup or container. Once filled, the user can close the spout by pushing the handle 120 upwardly away from the user to its upright position shown in FIG. 1. Figure 2

[0088] As previously described, the frozen beverage maker 100 includes an upper housing section 122 arranged to couple with the rear end of the mixing vessel 104 when the mixing vessel 104 is attached to the housing 102. The frozen beverage maker 100 also includes a lever 110 that enables the mixing vessel 104 to be coupled (e.g., locked, attached to, and / or affixed to) to the housing 102 (i.e., the upper housing section 122). The lever 110 also enables the mixing vessel 104 to be unlocked and separated from the housing 102 (i.e., the upper housing section 122). The features of the lever 110 are shown in FIGS. 1-3. Figure 5A 5B The features of the lever 110 are shown in FIGS. 1-3. Figure 5A ​​A side view of a frozen beverage making machine 100 is shown, in which the mixing container 104 is in a connected position relative to the upper housing section 122. Figure 5B It shows Figure 5A The side view of the frozen beverage making machine 100 shown in the figure, in which some features of the housing 102 and lever 110 are shown in partial cross-section.

[0089] like Figure 5A and 5B As shown, lever 110 includes a handle 111, which can be gripped by a user and moved relative to the upper housing section 122. The handle 111 can be moved to... Figure 5A and 5B The position shown is for attaching the mixing container 104 to the frozen beverage making machine 100, and can be moved away from the upper housing section 122 and / or towards the front of the housing 102 to disengage the mixing container 104 from the frozen beverage making machine 100. When the handle 111 moves relative to the upper housing section 122, it activates a cam 113, which engages a mating feature on the mixing container 104 to engage or disengage the mixing container 104 relative to the upper housing section 122. In some embodiments, the handle 111 moves less than 90° relative to the upper housing section 122 when moving between the engaged and disengaged positions.

[0090] Figure 6 A detailed view of the handle 111 is shown, in which two cams 113a, 113b are positioned on opposite sides. The handle 111 may include one, two, three, four, or more cams 113 if desired. As the handle 111 moves, the cams 113, 113b rotate relative to the upper housing section 122. Figure 7A A rear view of the mixing container 104 is shown. The mixing container 104 includes protrusions 115a and 115b on opposite outer sides near the rear bottom of the mixing container 104. The protrusions 115a and 115b are shaped and positioned to engage with cams 113a and 113b on the handle 111. Specifically, the cams 113a and 113b have channels and / or cam paths 109a and 109b through which the protrusions 115a and 115b slide, respectively. As the cams 113a and 113b rotate toward the rear of the housing 102, the protrusions 115a and 115b slide along the cam paths 109a and 109b and are pulled toward the upper housing section 122 and the rear of the housing 102, such that the mixing container 104 presses against the upper housing section 122 and forms a watertight seal with the housing 102. As the cams 113a and 113b rotate toward the front of the frozen beverage maker 100, the protrusions 115a and 115b are pushed away from the upper housing section 122, thereby disengaging the mixing container 104 from the upper housing section 122.

[0091] Cam 113 can be an eccentric cam, as shown in Figure 5B and Figure 6 Alternatively, cam 113 can have an alternative geometry. In the disclosed frozen beverage maker 100, cam 113 holds mixing container 104 on housing 102 when lever 110 is in the coupled position. As previously discussed, mixing container 104 can have an overall cylindrical or approximately cylindrical shape, and can include an opening 117 (shown in Figure 7B ) at its rear end where it is coupled to upper housing section 122. As shown in Figure 7B , the opening can be in a rear panel 119 of mixing container 104. Opening 117 can be positioned to face horizontally when mixing container 104 is in the coupled position on upper housing section 122.

[0092] To move lever 110 to the coupled position, handle 111 is moved toward upper housing section 122. Lever 110 cooperates with flexible seal 121 to seal opening 117 when mixing container 104 is in the coupled position on upper housing section 122. Figure 8 Flexible seal 121 is shown configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Flexible seal 121 can be formed of any elastomeric material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, silicone, neoprene, chloroprene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, or combinations thereof. Flexible seal 121 can be independent of housing 102. If desired, flexible seal 121 can be affixed to upper housing section 122. Flexible seal 121 can be a single component that includes a face seal portion 123 and / or a radial seal portion 125, as shown in Figure 8 . However, in other embodiments, face seal portion 123 and radial seal portion 125 can be implemented with different flexible seals 121.

[0093] Face seal portion 123 has an annular shape with a major dimension that is vertically aligned to form a vertically aligned seal between a horizontal face of upper housing section 122 and a horizontal edge of mixing container 104. Face seal portion 125 interfaces a vertically aligned surface of upper housing section 122 to a vertically aligned side of mixing container 104 when in the coupled position. Radial seal portion 125 includes a plurality of flexible annular ribs, as shown in Figure 8 . Radial seal portion 125 forms a radial seal relative to a horizontal axis of container 104, sealing against an interior (i.e., cylindrical) surface of container 104. Flexible seal 121 can include at least one of radial seal portion 125 and face seal portion 123.

[0094] Previously known frozen beverage makers do not include both a face seal and a radial seal for the mixing container. If present, the face seal portion 123 of the flexible seal 121 can provide an improved seal based on compression provided by the handle 111 pushing the mixing container 104 laterally against the wall of the upper housing section 122. The cam 113 also allows for easy implementation and maintenance of high forces on the face seal portion 123. Since the face seal portion 123 acts as the primary seal in some embodiments, the radial seal portion 125 size can be reduced, thereby reducing the resistance to seating of the mixing container and improving ease of use.

[0095] In some embodiments, the flexible seal 121 can be used as a seal for the container 104 and / or the evaporator 202. For example, Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of a sample flexible seal 121 having a container seal portion 127 and an evaporator seal portion 129 is shown. The container seal portion 127 of the flexible seal 121 creates a watertight seal between the mixing container 104 and the upper housing section 122. The evaporator seal portion 129 of the flexible seal 121 seals the evaporator 202 within the mixing container 104.

[0096] To move the lever 110 from the coupled position to the uncoupled position, the handle 111 is moved away from the upper housing section 122 and / or toward the front of the housing 102, which causes the mixing container 104 to slide in a forward direction (away from the upper housing section 122) to fully disassemble and / or remove from the housing 102. If desired, the cam 113 can include an ejection feature to apply an ejection force to the mixing container 104 to eject past the radial seal portion 125.

[0097] In other aspects, methods of using a frozen beverage maker 100 as disclosed herein are described. Figure 10 A method 800 of producing a frozen beverage using a frozen beverage maker apparatus is shown. The frozen beverage maker apparatus includes a housing having an upper housing section, and a lever configured to move relative to the upper housing section between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, and a mixing container arranged to couple to the upper housing section. The lever includes a handle movable to place the lever in the coupled position and / or the uncoupled position. As Figure 10As shown, method 800 includes engaging a mixing container to the upper housing section by moving a handle relative to the upper housing section to place a lever in an engaged position (box 802). When in the engaged position, at least one of a face seal and a radial seal is formed between the mixing container and the upper housing section. Method 800 also includes operating a frozen beverage making apparatus to produce a frozen beverage (box 804). Method 800 further includes disengaging the mixing container from the upper housing section by moving the handle relative to the upper housing section to place a lever in a disengaged position (box 806).

[0098] In some embodiments, attaching the mixing container to the upper housing section involves moving the handle toward the upper housing section. In these and other embodiments, disengaging the mixing container from the upper housing section involves moving the handle away from the upper housing section and / or toward the front of the housing. Moving the handle relative to the upper housing section to position the lever in the attached position can be done by a user using only one hand. In these and other embodiments, a user can move the handle relative to the upper housing section to position the lever in the unattached position using only one hand. In selected embodiments, moving the handle relative to the upper housing section to position the lever from the attached position to the unattached position requires moving the handle less than 90° relative to the upper housing section.

[0099] Figure 11A and 11B A perspective view of a collection tray 220 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The collection tray 220 typically includes a collection portion 502 and a handle 504 for inserting and removing the tray 220 into and from the housing 102. The collection portion 502 may include three walls 502a, b, c extending generally upward from a surface 506 facing the evaporator. The walls 502a, b, c and the surface 506 may, together with the handle 504, define a chamber 508 for collecting liquids including condensate, spills, and water poured into the housing 102 to clean its interior. The shape of the collection portion 502 including the surface 506 facing the evaporator may correspond to the external shape of the evaporator 202. For example, the surface 506 facing the evaporator may be semi-cylindrical to correspond to the cylindrical shape of the evaporator 202, such as... Figure 11A As shown. However, this disclosure contemplates other suitable shapes for the collecting portion 502, such as rectangular. Chamber 508 may have a liquid volume capacity of about 16 ounces. However, this disclosure contemplates liquid volume capacities of more or less than 16 ounces. Figure 11BAs shown, the underside of handle 504 can define one or more ribs 514 for increasing structural integrity between the user-facing surface 510 of handle 504 and the body of tray 220. Tray 220 can be made of dishwasher-safe materials to facilitate cleaning.

[0100] Figure 11C A collection tray 220 according to illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure is shown inserted into the housing 102 of a frozen beverage maker 100. For ease of illustration, the housing 102 is shown with the mixing container 104 and attached dispenser assembly 108 removed. When fully inserted, the user-facing surface 510 of handle 504 can rest flush with the user interface 112 of housing 102. In the inserted position, tray 220 can be vertically spaced above the bottom side 103 of housing 102. Once liquid is collected in the chamber 508, a user can remove the tray 220 for disposal of the collected liquid and cleaning of the tray 220.

[0101] Figure 11D A housing 102 with the collection tray 220 removed according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. As Figure 11D shown, the housing 102 can include a top surface 520 for supporting the collection tray 220 when the tray 220 is inserted into the housing 102. The top surface 520 can be semi-cylindrical in shape to correspond to the semi-cylindrical shape of the evaporator-facing surface 506. The housing 102 can also include one or more rails 522 that define one or more slots 512 between the rails 522 and the top surface 520. The rails 522 can help guide a user to insert the tray 220 into the slots 512 when installing the tray 220 to the housing 102.

[0102] In some embodiments, to remove the collection tray 220 (e.g., for emptying and / or cleaning the tray 220), a user must first remove the mixing container 104 and attached dispenser 108 Figure 1 ). The user can then remove the collection tray 220 by pulling the collection tray 220 toward the user. This movement can cause the collection tray 220 to slide along the slots 512 until it is fully disengaged from the housing 102. Conversely, to insert the collection tray 220 into the housing 102, a user can insert the tray 220 into the housing 102 by inserting the collection portion 502 into the slots 512 below the evaporator 202 Figure 2 ) such that the evaporator-facing surface 506 faces the evaporator 202. In some embodiments, after the collection tray 220 has been inserted into the housing 102, the mixing container 104 with attached dispenser 108 can be inserted onto the housing 102 and fastened and sealed against the housing 102. Figure 12is a flowchart illustrating a method of removing the collection tray 220 from the housing 102 as described above. Figure 12 comprises removing the mixing container 104 and attached dispenser 108 from the housing 102 (block 1202), pulling the tray 220 towards the user, causing the tray to slide through the slot 512 (block 1204), and causing the tray 220 to fully disengage from the slot 512 in the housing 102 (block 1206).

[0103] Figures 13A to 13C A sample frozen beverage maker 100 having a mixing container 104 coupled to a housing 102 (specifically, an upper housing section 122) and a dispenser assembly 108 is shown in accordance with some embodiments. The mixing container 104 has a curved side wall that defines a substantially cylindrical chamber within it. In selected embodiments, the mixing container 104 is shaped as an ovoid or approximately an ovoid (i.e., a cylinder having an ovoid cross-section), or as an elliptical cylinder (i.e., a cylinder having an elliptical cross-section), or approximately an elliptical cylinder. When coupled to the housing 102, a front of the mixing container 104 contacts the dispenser assembly 108, and a back of the mixing container 104 abuts the upper housing section 122. Within the mixing container 104, a front of the chamber can have a substantially ovoid shape or a substantially circular shape. A back of the mixing container 104 chamber can include an opening configured to form a seal with the upper housing section 122. The opening at the back of the mixing container 104 can have a substantially circular shape or a substantially ovoid shape. The mixing container 104 is sized to accommodate a blender 204 that rotates about a central axis (shown in Figure 13C as central axis “A”). Figure 13B Possible directions of rotation (“R”) of the blender 204 are shown. The mixing container 104 can be shaped such that a distance from the central axis (A) of the blender 204 to a top of the container chamber is less than 6 inches, less than 8 inches, less than 10 inches, less than 12 inches, less than 14 inches, or less than 16 inches.

[0104] Figures 14A to 14C An example of a mixing container 104 is shown in which at least one internal baffle is configured to control slush flow within the mixing container 104. As Figure 13A , 13BAs shown in 14A to 14B, the mixing container 104 includes a side baffle 105 extending laterally along the sidewall 150 of the container chamber. In some embodiments, the side baffle 105 extends from the front (or proximately thereto) of the container chamber to the rear (or proximately thereto) of the container chamber. In some embodiments, the side baffle 105 extends along the chamber sidewall in a direction parallel to the central axis (A) of the stirrer 204. In some embodiments, the side baffle 105 is positioned on the left side of the chamber sidewall (when viewed from the front) (e.g., in embodiments where the stirrer rotates clockwise). Figure 14A and 14C The clockwise direction of the stirrer rotation (R) when viewed from the front is shown. In some embodiments, the side baffle 105 may be positioned slightly above the central axis (A) of the stirrer 204.

[0105] The side baffle 105 may include a curved surface 151 that conforms to the path of the stirrer 204, such as... Figure 14A and 14B As shown in the diagram. For example, when viewed along the central axis (A) of the stirrer, the side baffle 105 may project inward relative to the oval (e.g., elliptical) cross-section of the chamber sidewall 150, wherein, starting from the bottom end of the curved surface 151 of the side baffle 105, which is vertical or substantially vertical, the curved surface 151 may gradually slope inward until reaching an inflection point 153. After reaching the inflection point 153, the curved surface 151 may slope more sharply vertically until reaching the top end of the side baffle 105, and thereafter, the curved surface 151 of the side baffle 105 returns to a curvature consistent with the oval cross-section of the chamber sidewall 150. The radial direction of the curved surface 151 of the side baffle 105 from its bottom to the inflection point 153 is generally aligned with the radial movement of the stirrer 204, and thus with the contents of the container chamber 104. The cross-sectional geometry of the aforementioned side baffle 105 guides the contents of the container away from the top of the container chamber (i.e., at a lower radial trajectory than when the side baffle 105 is not present, for example, as shown in the image). Figure 13B (The right side of the container chamber shown). If the side baffle 105 were not present, the contents of the container chamber could flow unimpeded upwards along the sidewall 150 to the top inner surface of the container chamber, which would exclude these contents from mixing and / or allow them to escape from the mixing container 104. Therefore, the side baffle 105 reduces the amount of frozen material that might otherwise form on the top inner surface of the mixing container 104 due to the upward rotation of its contents.

[0106] like Figure 13B , 13C As shown in 14A to 14C, the mixing container 104 may include a front baffle 107. If present, the front baffle 107 may be positioned at the front top portion of the container chamber 103 (inFigure 13B In some embodiments, the front baffle 107 extends along the front of the container chamber between the right and left side walls of the container chamber. Rotation of the agitator 204 pushes the container contents toward the front of the container chamber, where, if unchecked, the contents can accumulate near the top front portion, even potentially creating a frozen mass that is detrimental to the mixing process. From Figure 13C In cross-section, the front baffle 107 can form an angle (e.g., 100° to 150°, 100° to 125°, or 105° to 120°) relative to the front of the container chamber that redirects the container contents that have been forced into the top front portion of the mixing container 104 toward the back of the container chamber. In some embodiments, the front baffle 107 can include a curved surface that extends upward from the front of the container chamber toward the top of the container chamber. In some such embodiments, the angle that the front baffle 107 forms relative to the front of the container chamber varies from a lower angle (e.g., 5° to 20°) at a section of the front baffle 107 near the front of the container chamber to a higher angle (e.g., 75° to 90°) at a section of the front baffle near the top of the container chamber.

[0107] The front baffle 107 is configured to push the contents away from the top surface of the container chamber to avoid accumulation and spillage on the top of the mixing container 104. Thus, the front baffle 107 reduces the amount of frozen material that can otherwise form on the top front interior surface of the mixing container 104 due to the action of the agitator 204.

[0108] As Figure 13C and 14A As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the mixing container 104 can include a corner baffle 190. The corner baffle 190 can be positioned at the front top side of the container chamber. The corner baffle 190 engages or connects the side baffle 105 and the front baffle 107. Thus, if the side baffle 105, the front baffle 107, and the corner baffle 190 are each present, the corner baffle 190 physically joins the side baffle 105 to the front baffle 107. As shown in FIG. 14B, the corner baffle 190 can be positioned at the front top side of the container chamber. Figures 14A to 14B As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the mixing container 104 can include a corner baffle 190. The corner baffle 190 can be positioned at the front top side of the container chamber. The corner baffle 190 engages or connects the side baffle 105 and the front baffle 107. Thus, if the side baffle 105, the front baffle 107, and the corner baffle 190 are each present, the corner baffle 190 physically joins the side baffle 105 to the front baffle 107. As shown in FIG. 14B, the corner baffle 190 can be positioned at the front top side of the container chamber.

[0109] The corner baffle 190 has a curved surface 155 that extends from the side baffle 105 to the front baffle 107. The curved surface 155 can be convex, as shown in FIG. 14A, or concave, as shown in FIG. 14B. Figure 14AThe corner baffle 190 extends into the container chamber at a relatively constant distance along its length. In other words, the depth of the corner baffle 190 can be relatively constant along the length of the corner baffle 190. The side (e.g., left or right) of the container chamber in which the corner baffle 190 is located can be selected based on the direction in which the agitator 204 rotates within the mixing container 104. In particular, the corner baffle 190 can be positioned such that the agitator 204 is directed toward the corner baffle 190 as it moves upward within the container chamber. For example, in selected embodiments, the corner baffle 190 is positioned at the upper left front of the container chamber when the agitator is arranged to rotate in a clockwise direction. This positioning can advantageously force slush downward toward the agitator 204 as the slush moves upward with the agitator 204, thereby reducing slush buildup on the sidewalls and top of the mixing container 104 when the agitator contacts the corner baffle 190.

[0110] It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the disclosed mixing container 104 includes one, two, three, or more internal baffles positioned within the container chamber. In other words, the mixing container 104 can include a side baffle 105, a front baffle 107, and / or a corner baffle 190. The side baffle 105, the front baffle 107, and / or the corner baffle 190 can reduce slush buildup on the sidewalls and top of the container chamber, which is important for commercial frozen beverage makers as well as home frozen beverage makers whose headspace is significantly less than commercial units.

[0111] Figure 15 is a close-up view of a user interface, e.g., the user interface 112. According to the view of Figure 15 The user interface 112 can include a power button 1502, a beverage type indicator panel 1504, a manual temperature adjustment and / or temperature offset indicator 1506, a manual temperature adjustment interface 1508, a beverage type control dial 1510, and a chill button 1512, according to the view. A user can use the power button 1502 to turn the frozen beverage maker 100 on or off. The user can select a beverage type to process a type of beverage product by turning the dial 1510 until the selected beverage type is indicated via the panel 1504. The user can select, for example, a slush, a cocktail, a shaved ice beverage, a juice, or a dairy / milkshake beverage type. The dial 1510 can also include a button feature that enables the user to start or stop processing of the beverage type by pressing the dial 1510. The manual temperature adjustment interface 1508 can include left and right buttons that enable the user to adjust the temperature within a temperature offset band, e.g., a Figure 16temperature offset 1602. The user can select the cool button 1512 to initiate a cooling program and / or recipe whereby the beverage maker 100 and / or controller 402 maintains the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104 at a cold temperature without forming a frozen or semi-frozen beverage product. In some embodiments, the same cold temperature is maintained for any beverage type. For example, the controller 402 can receive a signal indicating selection of the cool button 1512 and reduce the temperature to and maintain the temperature at or near a predefined temperature (e.g., within a range) that should not cause any beverage type to freeze. In another embodiment, the controller 402 can receive a signal indicating selection of the cool button 1512 and selection of a beverage type from the beverage type control dial 1510 and reduce the temperature to and maintain the temperature at or near a predefined temperature (e.g., within a range) defined for the particular beverage type (e.g., as specified by a beverage type object in memory) that should not cause the beverage type to freeze.

[0112] Figure 16 is a graph of coarse and fine temperature settings associated with processing a beverage product, where such temperature settings can be stored as temperature values in memory as described elsewhere herein. For example, when a user selects a dairy and / or milkshake recipe using the dial 1510 and starts a frozen beverage processing sequence and / or recipe, the controller 402 will control the process of the dairy / milkshake recipe to adjust the temperature of the beverage product to Figure 16 -4 degrees Celsius in the graph of coarse temperature settings 1604. The user can fine tune or adjust the coarse target temperature of the beverage type by setting a temperature offset using the manual temperature adjustment interface 1508 before, during, or after reaching the coarse temperature setting 1604. The user can press the left arrow button to decrease the recipe target temperature in increments of about 0.4 degrees Celsius to about -5.2 degrees Celsius. As the temperature decreases, the thickness and / or amount of frozen beverage particles increases. Accordingly, the manual temperature adjustment indicator 1506 can include a "thickness" label. But different labels can be used, such as "temperature offset" or "temperature adjustment" and the like.

[0113] The user can press the right arrow button to increase the recipe target temperature in increments of about 0.4 degrees Celsius to about -2.8 degrees Celsius. As the temperature increases, the thickness and / or amount of frozen beverage particles decreases. The manual temperature adjustment indicator 1506 can include one or more light indicators that are illuminated in a configuration corresponding to the selected temperature offset. For example, the manual temperature adjustment indicator 1506 can have a center light indicator that indicates a 0 degree Celsius offset (i.e., no offset) is selected. The offset indicator 1506 can include light indicators corresponding to each offset increment selected above or below the coarse setting (e.g., 0 degree Celsius offset point).Figure 16 Temperature offsets and / or manual adjustment bands associated with various types of beverage products, such as slushies, cappuccinos, cocktails, light and traditional beverage products are also shown. Each temperature band can contain a center, coarse and / or target beverage type temperature and user selectable fine tuning offset temperatures above and below the beverage type target temperature. In some embodiments, the temperature offset band associated with one recipe is different than the temperature offset band of a different recipe, resulting in different temperature offset increments between different recipes.

[0114] Figure 17 is a close-up view of another user interface according to embodiments of the disclosure. According to the view of Figure 17 , the user interface 112 can contain a power button 1708, a beverage type selector / indicator panel 1702, a manual temperature adjustment and / or temperature offset indicator 1706 and a manual temperature adjustment dial 1704. The user can use the power button 1708 to turn the beverage maker 100 on or off. The user can select a beverage type to process a class of beverage products by pressing the button associated with the selected beverage type, for example, SLUSHI. Selection of a particular beverage type can be indicated by the illumination of the light indicator associated with the selected beverage type button. For example, Figure 17 is shown with the slush beverage type selected by the illumination of the white LED indicator proximate to the SLUSHI button. The user can select, for example, a slush, a spiked slush or cocktail, a shaved ice beverage, a frozen juice or a dairy / milkshake beverage type. The manual temperature adjustment dial 1704 can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to set the temperature value and / or target temperature setting within a general range of beverage product temperature values. For example, the manual temperature adjustment indicator 1706 can contain ten temperature values or settings corresponding to, for example Figure 18 target temperatures shown in

[0115] Figure 18 is a graph of temperature values associated with an automatic recipe temperature target temperature and a manual temperature adjustment. Figure 18 The graph of Figure 18 corresponds to the ten light indicators of the manual temperature adjustment indicator 1706. In operation, when the user selects a beverage type, for example, MILKSHAKE, by pressing the corresponding button in the beverage type selector / indicator panel 1702, the adjacent indicator of the button illuminates. Additionally, if the coarse or automatic temperature value associated with the milkshake is about -4.0 degrees Celsius, which corresponds to Figure 18the target temperature. The interface 112 can emit an audible sound, e.g., a beep or sequence of beeps, when the target temperature is reached. The dimmed or flashing illumination can change to brighter and / or steady illumination when the target temperature is reached. In some embodiments, once the target temperature is reached, the controller 402 will cycle the compressor 214 on and off to maintain the temperature of the beverage product within a target temperature range that is above and / or below the target temperature. For example, the range can be greater than or equal to about 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, or 1.0 degrees Celsius above and below the target temperature of the beverage product. As long as the temperature remains within the target temperature range, the controller 402 will not initiate an alert (e.g., an audible output) or a change in the state of any of the indicators 1706 of the indicator 1706.

[0116] If the user wants to further decrease the target temperature and / or increase the target thickness of the smoothie to Figure 18 setting #10, the user can turn the dial 1704 until all 10 of the light indicators are illuminated. If the user wants to increase the target temperature to Figure 18 setting #3 and / or decrease the target thickness of the smoothie, the user can turn the dial 1704 until three of the indicator bars of the indicator 1706 are illuminated, as shown in Figure 17 Although Figure 17 shows an interface for manually adjusting the temperature using the dial 1704, other types of interfaces can be used, such as, but not limited to, up / down buttons, a touch screen, or a slider switch.

[0117] Figure 18 It is also shown how each increment of temperature change between each of the temperature settings #1 to #10 can be non-linear to account for the substantial change in thickness of the chilled or frozen beverage product. As the temperature is decreased, greater temperature changes are needed to cause a material or proportional change in the amount or thickness of the frozen beverage particles within the beverage product. For example, the temperature increment 1802 (between settings #4 and #5) is about 0.6 degrees Celsius, while the temperature increment 1804 (between settings #8 and #9) in the lower temperature range is about -1.0 degrees Celsius. In other embodiments, the increments of temperature change between the settings can be constant, resulting in a linear temperature range. Although Figure 17 and Figure 18 show a range that includes 10 temperature values or settings, any number of settings and / or temperature ranges can be implemented.

[0118] Figure 19 is in Figure 1A graph of drive motor 208 current and beverage product temperature versus time as the frozen beverage maker 100 processes a beverage product. Figure 19 A graph of drive motor current 1902 and corresponding beverage product temperature 1904 over time as a beverage product is being made. Figure 19 The graph of FIG. 19 illustrates how the current 1902 applied to the drive motor 208 increases as the temperature 1904 decreases, resulting in an increase in the thickness of the beverage product, which results in an increase in the resistance of the beverage product to the rotation of the blender 204, which in turn requires increased motor power and / or current 1902 to drive the blender 204 against the resistance. When the current 1902 or power or torque reaches or exceeds a threshold or motor condition limit 1906, such as about 40 watts and / or about 0.3 amperes of current, the controller 402 can deactivate the cooling circuit, i.e., stop the flow of coolant and / or refrigerant to the evaporator 202, to allow the temperature 1904 to increase, and thereby reduce the thickness of the beverage product to reduce the current 1902 of the drive motor 208 below the motor condition limit 1906. The controller 402 can automatically adjust the temperature setting associated with the particular beverage type, which can have been fine-tuned by a user selection of a manual temperature adjustment and / or temperature offset, to a new temperature setting corresponding to a second target temperature, where the magnitude of the motor current 1902 is below the motor condition limit 1906. The second target temperature can be set to be, for example, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, or 2.0 degrees Celsius higher than the initial and / or first target temperature (a relatively small offset). In this way, the controller 402 prevents an overcurrent condition and possible damage to the drive motor 208. This can also enable the operation of the beverage maker 100 and the blender 204 to continue by preventing the buildup of ice within the mixing vessel 104, i.e., preventing the drive motor 208 from stalling, which would otherwise stop the beverage maker 100 and block the slush output from the mixing vessel 104, and require the user to defrost and / or unblock the mixing vessel 104 before normal operation can resume. Thus, this stall prevention enables the beverage maker 100 to provide some slush output. In addition, an overcurrent or power condition of the drive motor 208 caused by an object blocking the rotation of the blender 204 can also be prevented. The controller 402 can perform actions in addition to stopping the drive motor 208, such as turning off the compressor 214, for example. Figure 19 The graph of FIG. 19 also illustrates how the controller 402 can continuously and / or periodically monitor the temperature associated with the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104 via the temperature sensor 406 to enable continuous control of components of the frozen beverage maker 100, such as the compressor 214 and other components, to enable automatic control of the temperature of the beverage product.

[0119] Figure 20is a flowchart of a process 2000 to manufacture a chilled beverage product using a recipe for initial or coarse temperature and / or texture control and then using user input to fine tune the temperature and / or texture of the beverage product. In certain embodiments, the process 2000 includes receiving a beverage product in a mixing vessel 104 (step 2002), mixing the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104 using a mixer and / or agitator 204 driven by a drive motor 208 (step 2004), cooling the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104 using a cooling circuit, e.g., including an evaporator 202 (step 2006), detecting a temperature associated with the beverage product via a temperature sensor 406 and outputting a temperature signal (step 2008), storing in a memory 408 a beverage object representing a beverage type, the beverage object specifying a first temperature value and / or setting corresponding to a first target temperature (step 2010), receiving the temperature signal at a controller 402 (step 2012), controlling, by the controller 402, the temperature associated with the beverage product by controlling the cooling circuit based on the received temperature signal, the first temperature value, and / or a manual temperature adjustment, e.g., by activating or deactivating a compressor 214 to initiate or stop a flow of refrigerant through the evaporator 202 (step 2014), and receiving user input to adjust the manual temperature adjustment (step 2016). The user input can indicate a desired thickness corresponding to the manual temperature adjustment. In some embodiments, the manual adjustment can be customized according to the beverage type. In certain embodiments, the manual adjustment is universal for all beverage types. In some implementations, the manual adjustment is finer and / or for a smaller range specific to the beverage type, e.g., corresponding to Figure 16 ), and in other implementations, coarser and / or for a larger range not specific to the beverage type, i.e., across multiple, e.g., all, beverage types, enabling greater freedom for the user in adjusting the thickness and / or temperature.

[0120] Figure 21is a flowchart of a process 2100 for automatically detecting when drive motor current is too high and / or beverage product is too thick, and in response, adjusting the temperature of the beverage product to reduce the drive motor current and / or increasing the temperature of the beverage product to reduce the thickness of the beverage product. In certain embodiments, the process 2100 includes receiving a beverage product in a mixing vessel 104 (step 2102); mixing the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104 using a mixer and / or agitator 204 driven by a drive motor 208 (step 2104); cooling the beverage product within the mixing vessel 104 using a cooling circuit, such as an evaporator 202 (step 2106); measuring a temperature associated with the beverage product via a temperature sensor 406 and outputting a temperature signal (step 2108); measuring a motor condition associated with the drive motor 208 via a motor condition sensor 406 and outputting a motor condition signal (step 2110); storing a first temperature value corresponding to a first target temperature and storing a motor condition limit in a memory 408 (step 2112); receiving the temperature signal and the motor condition signal at a controller 402 (step 2114); and controlling the temperature associated with the beverage product by controlling the cooling circuit based on at least the received temperature signal, the received motor condition signal, the first temperature setting, and the motor condition limit, such as by activating or deactivating a compressor 214 to initiate or stop the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator 202 (step 2116).

[0121] In some embodiments, when the motor condition signal exceeds a motor knock threshold, i.e., the motor current or power is too high and / or high enough to damage the drive motor 208, possibly caused by excessive ice buildup within the mixing container 104, the controller 402 can stop and / or disable the drive motor 208 to stop rotation of the blender 204. For example, excessive ice buildup can be caused by filling the mixing container with only water or a liquid that is primarily composed of water. Turning off the drive motor 208 can also prevent damage to the blender 204 caused by the overbuilt-up hard ice. The controller 402 can perform other actions in addition to or instead of disabling the drive motor 208, such as alerting the user via the user interface 112 to add more ingredients, such as sugar or alcohol, to the beverage product, or alerting the user to turn off the beverage maker 100. A different motor shutdown threshold for the motor 208 can be set higher than the motor knock threshold limit. In this way, the controller 104 can attempt to increase the temperature in the mixing container 104 when the motor knock threshold limit is reached, but only shut down and / or stop the drive motor 208 when the motor shutdown threshold is reached to prevent damage to the drive motor 208. The controller 104 can take action based on determining whether the motor knock threshold limit or the motor shutdown limit has been reached or exceeded for a period of time, such as 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 5 seconds or more. By observing the motor current and / or power for a period of time, false positives and / or readings of current and / or power can be eliminated.

[0122] Figure 22A A dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 is shown within the housing of a beverage maker 2200 that includes a refrigeration system having a condenser 2208 and a compressor 2210. The beverage maker 2200 also includes a drive motor 2204 configured to drive rotation of a blender 2212 during processing of a beverage product. The dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 draws an airflow through the condenser 2208 and directs the airflow toward the drive motor 2204 via an air passage 2206. As the airflow passes over and adjacent to the condenser coil, the airflow passes to cool refrigerant passing through the condenser 2208 within a closed loop refrigeration system. The airflow also passes along a surface and / or surfaces of the drive motor 2204 to achieve cooling of the drive motor 2204. While the dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 is shown positioned at an angle relative to the drive motor 2204 and the condenser 2208, other configurations, arrangements, or orientations can be implemented such that the dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 provides a cooling airflow to the condenser 2208 and the drive motor 2204. Figure 22A A dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 is shown within the housing of a beverage maker 2200 that includes a refrigeration system having a condenser 2208 and a compressor 2210. The beverage maker 2200 also includes a drive motor 2204 configured to drive rotation of a blender 2212 during processing of a beverage product. The dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 draws an airflow through the condenser 2208 and directs the airflow toward the drive motor 2204 via an air passage 2206. As the airflow passes over and adjacent to the condenser coil, the airflow passes to cool refrigerant passing through the condenser 2208 within a closed loop refrigeration system. The airflow also passes along a surface and / or surfaces of the drive motor 2204 to achieve cooling of the drive motor 2204. While the dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 is shown positioned at an angle relative to the drive motor 2204 and the condenser 2208, other configurations, arrangements, or orientations can be implemented such that the dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 provides a cooling airflow to the condenser 2208 and the drive motor 2204.

[0123] In some embodiments, a beverage maker, such as beverage maker 2200, includes a mixing vessel, such as mixing vessel 104, arranged to receive a beverage product. Beverage maker 2200 includes a mixing assembly, such as a stirrer 2212 or another type of mixing assembly, driven by a drive motor 2212 arranged to mix the beverage product within mixing vessel 104. A refrigeration system is arranged to cool the beverage product within mixing vessel 104, the refrigeration system including a condenser, such as condenser 2208. A cooling fan 2202, i.e., a dual-purpose cooling fan, is configured to simultaneously cool drive motor 2204 and condenser 2208. Cooling fan 2202 can provide a flow of air through condenser 2208 to cool refrigerant flowing through condenser 2208. Cooling fan 2202 can provide a flow of air along a surface of drive motor 2204 to cool drive motor 2204. Cooling fan 2202, drive motor 2204, and condenser 2208 can be positioned such that air generated by cooling fan 2202 continuously passes through condenser 2208 and along a surface of drive motor 2204.

[0124] A first portion of air generated by cooling fan 2202 can cool condenser 2208, and a second portion of air generated by cooling fan 2202 can cool drive motor 2204. Condenser 2208 can include a plurality of coils carrying coolant and / or refrigerant within a closed loop of a refrigeration circuit. When cooling fan 2202 provides a flow of air through condenser 2208 to cool refrigerant flowing through condenser 2208, the flow of air can travel adjacent to and / or around the plurality of coils. Cooling channel 2206 can extend between cooling fan 2202 and drive motor 2204, where cooling channel 2206 provides a flow of cooling air between cooling fan 2202 and drive motor 2204. Cooling channel 2206 can be formed at least in part by a duct and / or a tube. The tube can include plastic, metal, composite, and the like. Cooling channel can extend between cooling fan 2202 and condenser 2208, where cooling channel provides a flow of cooling air between cooling fan 2202 and condenser 2208. Cooling channel can be formed at least in part by a duct. Cooling fans 2202 and 2222 can include a centrifugal fan, a crossflow fan, a tangential fan, a volute fan, a backward curved fan, a forward curved fan, a blower fan, a squirrel cage fan, and / or an axial fan.

[0125] In some embodiments, a cooling fan, such as cooling fan 2202, is configured to cool a drive motor, such as drive motor 2204, and a condenser, such as condenser 2208, within a housing of a beverage maker. Cooling fan 2202 can include an air inlet configured to receive an airflow, an impeller configured to generate the airflow; and an air outlet configured to output the airflow past condenser 2208 and along a surface of drive motor 2204.

[0126] Figure 22B Another embodiment of a dual-purpose cooling fan 2222 within a housing of a beverage maker 2220 is shown, the beverage maker including a drive motor 2224, a blender 2226, a compressor 2230, and a condenser 2228. Drive motor 2224 is coupled to and drives rotation of the blender, and also drives rotation of cooling fan 2222 via a gear 2236. Cooling fan 2222 includes an air outlet 2238 that directs an airflow from cooling fan 2222 through an air channel 2232, which can include a tube 2234 that directs the airflow through condenser 2228 to cool refrigerant flowing through condenser 2238.

[0127] Figure 22C A perspective view of dual-purpose cooling fan 2222 within a housing 2242 of beverage maker 2220 is shown. Cooling fan 2222 can be a centrifugal fan and / or another type of fan as described herein. Cooling fan 2222 can include an impeller 2244 that draws an airflow into cooling fan 2222 via an inlet 2236, and then discharges the air downward at about a right angle relative to inlet 2236 via an outlet 2238. The airflow exiting outlet 2238 flows downward past drive motor 2224, including along a surface of drive motor 2224 and through air channel 2232, which can include a tube 2234 that directs the airflow through condenser 2228 (a coil adjacent to and / or around condenser 2228) to effect cooling of refrigerant passing through the coil.

[0128] Figure 23 is for operating Figure 22A and 22BA flowchart of process 2300 for the dual-purpose cooling fan 2202 or 2222. Process 2300 facilitates the simultaneous cooling of the condenser 2208 (or condenser 2228) and drive motor 2204 (or drive motor 2224) within the housing of the beverage maker by using the cooling fan 2202 or 2222 respectively: activating drive motor 2204 (or drive motor 2224), which is arranged to drive the rotation of agitator 2212 (or agitator 2226) within the mixing container of the beverage maker (step 2302); activating compressor 2208 (or compressor 2230) of the refrigeration circuit of the beverage maker (step 2304); and activating cooling fan 2202 (or cooling fan 2222) to simultaneously generate an airflow through condenser 2208 (or condenser 2228) and along the surface of drive motor 2204 (or drive motor 2224) (step 2306).

[0129] As previously mentioned, the frozen beverage making machine 100 may include a pouring opening 106 through which a mixing container 104 receives ingredients to be mixed to produce a beverage product. Figures 24A to 24C The illustration shows a pouring opening 106 for a frozen beverage making machine 100. The frozen beverage making machine 100 includes a mixing container 104 having a generally cylindrical chamber and a housing 102 having an upper housing section 122. Figure 24A A perspective side view of the inlet opening 106 is shown. Figure 24B It shows Figure 24A The front view of the pouring opening 106, and Figure 24C The image shown is from the left side of the mixing container 104 (when viewed from the front view). Figure 24A A perspective view of the pouring opening 106. The pouring opening 106 facilitates the addition of fluids, liquids, slush, or other ingredients to the mixing container 104 while the mixer 204 is in operation, and minimizes spillage and prevents fingers from being inserted during use.

[0130] In some embodiments, the pouring opening 106 may include a cap 160 to seal the pouring opening 106, such as Figure 24A and 24C As shown in the image. Figure 25 A detailed perspective view of a sample cover 160 for pouring opening 106 is shown. If present, cover 160 may be hinged to the upper section of mixing container 104. Cover 160 may move between an open position where the user can access pouring opening 106 and a closed position where the user cannot access pouring opening 106. Although not shown in the figures, pouring opening 106 may also include a grille to restrict the entry of objects into orifice 162. If present, the grille may reduce the risk of solids larger than a certain size and / or having one or more certain shapes entering mixing container 104, which could potentially cause damage.

[0131] Figure 26 A perspective view showing the sample pouring opening 106 is shown. The pouring opening 106 includes a surface 164 that is radially inclined with respect to the central axis of the blender 204 (shown as axis "A" in Figure 24A the center of the mixing container 104. The incline 164 reduces possible splashing when the container is being filled. The incline 164 also prevents the slush contained in the mixing container 104 from being pushed out of the pouring opening 106. The surface 164 has an aperture 162. Although Figure 26 only one aperture 162 is shown, additional apertures can also be present. The aperture 162 is in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the mixing container 104. In some embodiments, the aperture 162 extends laterally along the surface 164 in a direction parallel to the central axis "A" of the blender 204. The aperture 162 can be shaped as a slot, as Figure 26 shown, or can have a different shape. If shaped as a slot, the aperture 162 can be longer or wider than shown in Figures 24A to 24C the center of the mixing container 104. In addition, the aperture 162, as a slot or another elongated oval shape, can be aligned parallel or perpendicular to the axis of the mixing container 104, or at any other angle with respect to the axis of the mixing container 104. The aperture 162, in the form of a slot, for example, can be small enough (at least in width) to not allow a human finger to pass through, at least not the entire length of a human finger, thereby preventing a user from sticking one or more fingers into the mixing container 104.

[0132] The pouring opening 106 can optionally include one or more lips 166a, 166b extending upward from the perimeter of the surface 164 to form a well into which the aperture 162 feeds, as Figure 26 shown. The one or more lips 166a, 166b can reduce spillage when liquid is poured into the mixing container 104. If desired, the pouring opening 106 can also include a grate (not shown) covering at least a portion of the aperture 162. For safety reasons, a user should not touch the blender 204 while the blender is rotating. The geometry of the pouring opening 106, including the aperture 162 as described above, can inhibit or prevent a user from reaching into the mixing container 104 even when the cover 160 is in the open position and / or the blender 204 is rotating.

[0133] The pouring opening 106 can be positioned on the top of the mixing container 104, near its rear end, as Figures 24A to 24CThe pour-in opening 106 is positioned near the rear of the mixing container 104 to avoid interfering with the slush circulation in the front of the frozen beverage maker 100, which can result in waste and non-uniform texture. With the pour-in opening 106 positioned at the rear of the mixing container 104, the front 2 / 3 of the container has a continuous and smooth interior shape to provide good slush flow and minimize slush migration out of the top. By positioning the pour-in opening 106 near the rear of the container 104, the opening 106 is located in a position where there is less likely to be frozen and / or slush material accumulation, enabling less obstruction during pouring and reducing the likelihood of ice and / or slush material accumulation at the opening 106.

[0134] The surface 164 of the pour-in opening 106 is sloped to direct the incoming ingredients into the mixing container 104 in the direction of entry, which is the same direction as the rotation of the agitator 204. This prevents the rotating frozen mixture from exiting the container 104 through the pour-in opening 106. In some embodiments, the opening 106 is positioned on the right side of the container 104 when viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker 100 when the agitator 204 is rotating in a clockwise direction. The apertures 162 can be positioned to extend laterally along the surface 164 in a direction parallel to the central axis (A) of the agitator 204, while in other embodiments, the opening 106 is positioned on the left side of the container 104 when viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker 100 when the agitator 204 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction.

[0135] Figures 27A to 27D A sample pour-in opening 106 is shown, where the surface 164 of the pour-in opening is shaped to slope downwardly toward the rear of the mixing container. In some such embodiments, one or more apertures 162 can be positioned at the bottom portion of the surface 164. Shaping the surface 164 to include a rearward slope can increase the volumetric capacity of the pour-in opening 106 and reduce spillage. In embodiments where the surface 164 of the pour-in opening 106 is sloped relative to the central axis (A) of the agitator 204, the surface 164 can be shaped such that the section of the surface 164 closest to the front of the mixing container is positioned further from the central axis (A) of the agitator 204 than the section of the surface 164 closest to the rear of the mixing container.

[0136] Figure 28 A sample method 2800 of using a pour-in opening 106 for a frozen beverage maker is shown. As Figures 29A to 29DAs shown, the method 2800 includes optionally opening a lid cover of the frozen beverage maker to provide access to a pour opening (block 2802). The method 2800 also includes introducing one or more liquid ingredients into a mixing vessel of the frozen beverage maker via the pour opening (block 2804). The one or more liquid ingredients can be added to the mixing vessel while the vessel is actively mixing (e.g., while the agitator is rotating). The method 2800 further includes dispensing a beverage product from the frozen beverage maker (block 2806). If desired, the beverage product can be dispensed while the agitator is rotating.

[0137] Figure 29A A dispensing assembly 2900 for dispensing a beverage product from a frozen beverage maker 100 according to a first illustrative embodiment of the disclosure is shown. As Figure 29B shown, the dispensing assembly 2900 can include a dispenser housing 2904 for housing componentry portions of the dispensing assembly 2900. The housing 2904 can have a first portion 2904a that is attached to an outer surface of the frozen beverage maker 100 proximate to a spout 2902 and a second portion 2904b that is spaced apart from the spout 2902 and extends outwardly from the outer surface. In some embodiments, the housing 2904 can have an inverted L-shape. However, other suitable shapes for the housing 2904 are contemplated by the disclosure. The handle 120 of the frozen beverage maker 100 can have an upper portion 120a in the form of a user-actuatable lever 2906 and a lower portion 120b that is attached to the second portion 2904b of the housing 2904.

[0138] As Figure 29D and 29CAs shown, the lever 2906 can rotate about a first pivot component 2908 relative to the second portion 2904b of the housing 2904. In some embodiments, the first pivot component 2908 can be a rod or pin 2910 that extends through the second portion 2904b of the housing 2904 and the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. However, other suitable types of pivot components 2908 are contemplated by the present disclosure. A link component 2912 can be operatively coupled to the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. In some embodiments, the link component 2912 can be inserted into the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. The link component 2912 can rotate relative to the lever 2906 about a second pivot component 2914. In some embodiments, the second pivot component 2914 can be a rod or pin 2916 that extends through the link component 2912 and through the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. However, other suitable types of pivot components 2916 are contemplated by the present disclosure. A cradle component 2918 can be operatively coupled to the link component 2912 and can be attached to the first portion 2904a of the housing 2904. In some embodiments, the link component 2912 can be inserted into the cradle component 2918. The cradle component 2918 can rotate relative to the link component 2912 about a third pivot component 2920. In some embodiments, the third pivot component 2920 can be a rod or pin 2922 that extends through the cradle component 2918 and the link component 2912. However, other suitable types of pivot components 2920 are contemplated by the present disclosure. The cradle component 2918 can also rotate relative to the first portion 2904a of the housing 2904 about a fourth pivot component 2924. In some embodiments, the fourth pivot component 2924 can be a rod or pin 2926 that extends through the first portion 2904a of the housing 2904 and the cradle component 2918. However, other suitable types of pivot components 2924 are contemplated by the present disclosure. A seal 2928 can be attached to the cradle component 2918. The seal 2928 can be configured to seal the spout 2902 to prevent inadvertent dispensing of the beverage product. In some embodiments, the seal 2928 can be a lip seal that covers the spout 2902. However, other suitable types of seals 2928 are contemplated by the present disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the seal 2928 can be or can include a plug made of one or more relatively dense materials having a relatively high hardness value and extending into the spout 2902 to seal the spout 2902. The spout 2902 can include a safety grate 2930 or other mechanism to prevent a user from inadvertently inserting his or her finger into the spout 2902 Figure 30A ).

[0139] In some embodiments, for dispensing beverage product, actuation of lever 2906 by the user causes linkage 2912 to move upward relative to housing 2904. Since bracket 2918 is attached to both linkage 2912 and housing 2904, a portion of bracket 2918 can move upward together with linkage 2912, while the remainder of bracket 2918 is forced to pivot about fourth pivot 2924. This, in turn, moves seal 2928 to the open position. When seal 2928 is in the open position, it exposes nozzle 2902 for dispensing beverage product. Advantageously, in the open position, seal 2928 can be angled at approximately 45 to 60 degrees relative to nozzle 2902 to guide beverage product downward toward the beverage cup. Releasing lever 2906 by the user allows the assembly to return to its unacted position, thereby allowing seal 2928 to close nozzle 2902 again.

[0140] Figure 30A and 30B A dispensing assembly 3000 for dispensing beverage products from a frozen beverage making machine 100 is shown according to a second illustrative embodiment of this disclosure. The dispensing assembly 3000 may be substantially similar to the dispensing assembly 2900. For example, as... Figure 30B As shown, the dispensing assembly 3000 may include a dispenser housing 3004 for accommodating the component portions of the dispensing assembly 3000. The housing 3004 may have a first portion 3004a attached to the outer surface of the frozen beverage making machine 100 adjacent to the nozzle 3002, and a second portion 3004b spaced apart from the nozzle 3002 and extending outward from the outer surface. The handle 120 may have an upper portion 120a in the form of a user-actuable lever 3006 and a lower portion 120b attached to the second portion 3004b of the housing 3004. The lever 3006 is rotatable relative to the second portion 3004b of the housing 3004 about a first pivot member 3008. A linkage member 3012 may be operatively coupled to the lower portion 120b of the handle 120. The linkage member 3012 is rotatable relative to the lever 3006 about a second pivot member 3014.

[0141] like Figure 31AAs shown, the cradle component 3018 can be operatively coupled to the link component 3012 and can be attached to the first portion 3004a of the housing 3004. In some embodiments, the cradle component 3018 can have an inverted L-shape, as shown. However, other suitable shapes of the cradle component 3018 are contemplated by the present disclosure. The cradle component 3018 can rotate about the third pivot component 3020 relative to the link component 3012. The cradle component 3018 can also rotate about the fourth pivot component 3024 relative to the first portion 3004a of the housing 3004. A seal 3028 can be attached to the cradle component 3018. The seal 3028 can be configured to seal the spout 3002 in a closed position. In some embodiments, the seal 3028 can be a lip seal that covers the spout 3002. However, in some embodiments, the seal 3028 can be or can include a plug made of one or more relatively dense materials having a relatively high hardness value and extending into the spout 3002 to seal the spout 3002.

[0142] To dispense a beverage product, in some embodiments, actuation of the lever 3006 by a user can cause the link component 3012 to move upward relative to the housing 3004. Since the cradle component 3018 is attached to both the link component 3012 and the housing 3004, a portion of the cradle component 3018 can move upward with the link component 3012, while the rest of the cradle component 3018 is forced to pivot about the fourth pivot component 3024. This, in turn, can cause the seal 3028 to move to an open position. When the seal 3028 moves to the open position, the seal 3028 can uncover the spout 3002 to dispense a beverage product. Release of the lever 3006 by the user can allow the assembly to return to its unactuated position, thereby allowing the seal 3028 to close the spout 3002 again.

[0143] Advantageously, unlike other dispenser mechanisms, the dispensing assemblies 2900, 3000 of the present disclosure do not rely on leverage against the outer surface of the frozen beverage maker 100 to open the seal 2928, 3028. This can reduce wear on the component parts of the dispensing assemblies 2900, 3000 and the outer surface of the frozen beverage maker 100. Moreover, since the seal 2928, 3028 moves horizontally and vertically relative to the spout 2902, 3002 to unseal the spout 2902, 3002, the open position of the seal 2928, 3028 can provide less obstruction to the flow of beverage product from the spout 2902, 3002.

[0144] Figure 31A and 31BA spout cover or shroud 116 for covering a portion of a dispensing assembly 2900, 3000 according to illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in greater detail. As shown, the shroud 116 can include first and second panel segments 3102a, 3102b that extend substantially parallel to one another. A front segment 3104 can extend between the panel segments 3102a, 3102b. In some embodiments, the panel segments 3102a, 3102b can be substantially flat, while the front segment 3104 can be curved, as shown. In some embodiments, the front segment 3104 can include an arcuate upper edge 3106 configured so that actuation of the handle 120 is not impeded. However, the present disclosure contemplates other suitable shapes for the upper edge 3106, such as the straight shape shown in FIG. 13B. As shown, the panel segments 3102a, 3102b can be configured to form a removable snap fit with the dispenser housing 2904, 3004. The length of the shroud 116 can be selected to cover components of the dispensing assembly 2900, 3000 other than the handle 120 to improve the aesthetic appearance of the frozen beverage maker 100. The shroud 116 can also help to direct beverage product downward toward a beverage cup. The shroud 116 can be made of dishwasher-safe material to facilitate cleaning. Figure 1 Figure 31B Figure 4

[0145] In some embodiments, at least the front segment 3104 of the shroud 116 can be vertically movable relative to the dispensing assembly 2900, 3000. For example, in some embodiments, the front segment 3104 can be movable relative to the first and second panel segments 3102a, 3102b. In some embodiments, the front segment 3104 can be hingedly connected to the first and second panel segments 3102a, 3102b, or can be vertically slidable relative to the first and second panel segments 3102a, 3102b. Such movement can be useful when dispensing non-frozen, water-based beverages to prevent the beverage from being dispensed in a too-lateral trajectory from the spout 2902, 3002. Such a lateral trajectory can result in at least a portion of the beverage not being dispensed into a receiving container positioned beneath the spout 2902, 3002.

[0146] It will be appreciated that the various embodiments described herein are not limited to making frozen or semi-frozen beverages, but can be applied to producing cold and / or chilled beverage products that are colder than the received beverage product, but are not frozen or semi-frozen. For example, in some embodiments, the same or similar mechanisms and / or techniques can be used as part of a cold beverage machine and / or a chilled beverage maker to produce, maintain, and dispense cold beverages.

[0147] As with respect to ​ ​​​The actions associated with configuring or controlling a frozen beverage maker, such as the frozen beverage maker 100, and the processes described herein can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to control or perform all or some of the operations described herein. All or part of the frozen beverage maker 100 system and processes can be configured or controlled by special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA and / or an ASIC, or an embedded microprocessor.

[0148] Non-transitory machine-readable storage media suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile storage area, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

[0149] Elements of different embodiments described can be combined to form further embodiments not specifically described herein. Elements can be left out of the systems previously described without adversely affecting their operation or the overall operation of the systems. Additionally, various individual elements can be combined into one or more individual elements to perform the functions described in this specification.

[0150] The present disclosure describes a removable collection tray that can be disposed within a unit beneath a container / evaporator. The tray can be configured to collect condensate that drips from the container or overflow caused by filling the container. The tray can also be used to collect water from cleaning between uses. The tray of the present disclosure can be sized to collect up to 16 ounces of liquid. The tray can also be made of dishwasher-safe material to facilitate cleaning.

[0151] The present application describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatuses that provide a removable condensation tray beneath a container to reduce cleaning issues and increase ease of use.

[0152] In some embodiments, a removable collection tray for a frozen beverage maker includes a collection chamber for receiving liquid and a handle. The collection chamber is configured to be removably inserted into a slot of a housing of the frozen beverage maker adjacent to an evaporator. In some embodiments, the collection chamber is vertically spaced from a bottom side of the housing when inserted into the slot. In some embodiments, the collection chamber includes an evaporator-facing surface. The evaporator-facing surface has a shape that corresponds to an outer surface of the evaporator. In some embodiments, the shape is semi-cylindrical. In some embodiments, the handle, the evaporator-facing surface, and three other side walls define the collection chamber. In some embodiments, the collection chamber has a liquid volume capacity of 16 ounces. In some embodiments, the removable collection tray is made of dishwasher-safe material. In some embodiments, a user-facing surface of the handle is flush with a user interface of the housing when the collection chamber is fully inserted into the slot. In some embodiments, an underside of the handle has one or more ribs for increasing structural integrity between the handle and the collection chamber. In some embodiments, the slot is defined between at least one rail and a top surface of the housing.

[0153] In some embodiments, a method of removing a collection tray from a frozen beverage maker includes removing a mixing container from a housing of the frozen beverage maker, and after removing the mixing container from the housing, removing the collection tray from the housing. In some embodiments, removing the mixing container from the housing includes removing the mixing container and an attached dispenser from the housing. In some embodiments, removing the collection tray from the housing includes pulling a handle toward a user. In some embodiments, pulling the handle toward the user includes sliding the collection tray toward the user along a slot in the housing. In some embodiments, the method further includes disengaging the collection tray completely from the slot in the housing.

[0154] In various embodiments, the present application addresses deficiencies associated with controlling slush flow within a mixing container of a frozen beverage maker. The present application describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatuses that use one or more internal baffles positioned within the mixing container to direct slush flow for thorough mixing and to prevent clogging within the mixing container. The one or more internal baffles controlling flow of contents within the mixing container can also reduce waste (e.g., waste caused by slush adhering to the container rather than being dispensed through a spout).

[0155] In a first aspect, a mixing vessel for a frozen beverage maker is described and has at least one interior baffle. The mixing vessel includes curved side walls that define a substantially cylindrical vessel chamber therein. The vessel chamber includes a front, a back, a right side, a left side, and a top. The mixing vessel also includes a corner baffle configured to control slush flow within the vessel chamber. The corner baffle is located at a front top of the vessel chamber, on the right side or the left side.

[0156] The mixing vessel can be configured to hold an agitator that rotates within the vessel chamber about a central axis, and the corner baffle can be positioned such that the agitator is directed toward the corner baffle when moving upward within the vessel chamber. In these and other embodiments, the corner baffle is positioned on the left side of the vessel chamber, and the agitator is arranged to rotate in a clockwise direction. In selected embodiments, a distance from the central axis of the agitator to the top of the vessel chamber is less than 16 inches.

[0157] The corner baffle can extend out into the vessel chamber at a relatively constant distance from the front. In some embodiments, the mixing vessel also includes a side baffle that extends laterally along the vessel chamber from the front to the back. The side baffle can include a curved surface that projects inward relative to a cross-section of the vessel chamber when viewed along a central axis of the vessel chamber. In these and other embodiments, the side baffle is positioned on the left side or the right side of the vessel chamber. Both the side baffle and the corner baffle can be positioned on the left side or the right side of the vessel chamber. In some embodiments, the mixing vessel also includes a front baffle positioned at the front of the vessel chamber, extending across the top. In these and other embodiments, the front baffle forms an angle of between 100° and 150° relative to the front of the vessel chamber. In various embodiments in which a front baffle is present, the mixing vessel also includes a side baffle that extends laterally along the vessel chamber from the front to the back, and the corner baffle has a curved surface that extends from the side baffle to the front baffle. The substantially cylindrical vessel chamber can have an elliptical cross-section.

[0158] In another aspect, a mixing vessel for a frozen beverage maker is described and has at least three interior baffles. The mixing vessel includes curved side walls that define a substantially cylindrical vessel chamber therein. The vessel chamber includes a front, a back, a right side, a left side, and a top. The mixing vessel includes a corner baffle positioned at a front top of the vessel chamber, on the right side or the left side. The mixing vessel also includes a side baffle that extends laterally along the vessel chamber from the front to the back. The mixing vessel further includes a front baffle positioned at the front of the vessel chamber, extending across the top.

[0159] In some embodiments, both a side baffle and a corner baffle are positioned on the left or right side of the container chamber. In these and other embodiments, the mixing container is configured to hold an agitator that rotates within the container chamber about a central axis. The corner baffle and the side baffle are positioned such that the agitator is directed toward the corner baffle and the side baffle as it moves upward within the container chamber. In these and other embodiments, the corner baffle and the side baffle are positioned on the left side of the container chamber, and the agitator is arranged to rotate in a clockwise direction. In selected embodiments, the distance from the central axis of the agitator to the top of the container chamber is less than 16 inches. The corner baffle can extend out into the container chamber at a relatively constant distance from the front.

[0160] In yet another aspect, a frozen beverage maker is described. The frozen beverage maker includes a mixing container, a housing, an agitator, and a dispenser assembly. The mixing container has a front, a back, and curved side walls that define a container chamber therein. The housing has an upper housing section that interfaces the back of the mixing container. The agitator is arranged to rotate within the mixing container about a central axis. The dispenser assembly is at the front of the mixing container. The mixing container includes at least two interior baffles configured to control slush flow within the container chamber.

[0161] In some embodiments, the mixing container includes at least three interior baffles configured to control slush flow within the container chamber. In some such embodiments, the at least three interior baffles include: (1) a corner baffle positioned on the right or left side at the front top of the container chamber; (2) a side baffle extending laterally along the container chamber from the front to the back; and (3) a front baffle positioned at the front of the container chamber extending across the top. In these and other embodiments, the agitator rotates in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front of the frozen beverage maker, and the corner baffle and the side baffle are positioned on the left side of the container chamber.

[0162] In various embodiments, the present application addresses deficiencies associated with controlling the temperature of a beverage product using a recipe in a more adaptive and user-specific manner.

[0163] The present application describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatuses that enable a beverage maker to automatically control the temperature of a beverage product based on a preset recipe target temperature stored in a memory, while further allowing a user to adjust the preset temperature via a user input to enable a frozen beverage maker to more flexibly achieve a desired temperature and / or texture that is customized to the preferences of different users. The present application also describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatuses that enable a beverage maker to automatically control the temperature of a beverage product based on a preset recipe target temperature stored in a memory, while further monitoring a condition of a drive and / or blender motor, such as current or power, and if the current or power is too high, increasing the temperature of the beverage product to reduce the thickness of the beverage product, and thereby reduce the current and / or power used by the drive and / or blender motor to prevent damage to the drive motor.

[0164] In one aspect, a beverage maker includes a mixing vessel arranged to receive a beverage product and a blender driven by a drive motor arranged to mix the beverage product within the mixing vessel. The beverage maker also includes a cooling circuit and / or device arranged to cool the beverage product within the mixing vessel, a temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature associated with the beverage product and output a temperature signal, and a memory arranged to store a beverage object representing a beverage type, the beverage object specifying a first temperature value corresponding to a first target temperature. A controller in communication with the memory is arranged to: i) receive the temperature signal, and ii) control the temperature associated with the beverage product by controlling the cooling circuit based on the received temperature signal, the first temperature value, and / or a manual temperature adjustment and / or temperature offset. The frozen beverage maker also includes a user interface arranged to receive a user input to adjust the manual temperature adjustment.

[0165] The temperature associated with the beverage product can include a temperature of the beverage product, a temperature of a cooling element used to cool the beverage product, and / or a temperature of a refrigerant used to cool the beverage product. The controller can adjust the first target temperature by adding the manual temperature adjustment to the first target temperature. The manual temperature adjustment can include a positive temperature value or a negative temperature value. The manual temperature adjustment can include a range of temperatures at the first target temperature, above the first target temperature, and below the first target temperature. The manual temperature adjustment can be adjusted in increments greater than or equal to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, and / or 2 degrees Celsius.

[0166] In some embodiments, the memory includes a plurality of recipes, each of the recipes including a temperature value corresponding to a target temperature. The cooling circuit and / or the device can include a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator. The evaporator can be part of a closed loop refrigeration circuit and / or system including a condenser and a compressor. The controller can be configured to control a temperature associated with the beverage product by activating the compressor to circulate refrigerant through the evaporator to cool the beverage product and deactivating the compressor to stop refrigerant flow through the evaporator to stop cooling of the beverage product. The controller can control the temperature associated with the beverage product by comparing the received temperature signal to the first temperature value adjusted based on the manual temperature adjustment and in response, activating or deactivating the cooling circuit to match the received temperature signal to the first temperature value adjusted by the manual temperature adjustment and thereby adjust the temperature associated with the beverage product to approximately the target temperature adjusted by the manual temperature adjustment. In some embodiments, the cooling circuit includes a thermal energy cooling (TEC) system implementing, for example, Peltier effect.

[0167] In another aspect, a method for manufacturing a beverage product includes receiving the beverage product in a mixing vessel; mixing the beverage product within the mixing vessel using an agitator driven by a drive motor; cooling the beverage product within the mixing vessel using a cooling circuit; measuring a temperature associated with the beverage product via a temperature sensor and outputting a temperature signal; storing in a memory a beverage object representing a beverage type, the beverage object specifying a first temperature value corresponding to a first target temperature; receiving the temperature signal at a controller; controlling, by the controller, a temperature associated with the beverage product by controlling the cooling circuit based on the received temperature signal, the first temperature value, and a manual temperature adjustment; and receiving a user input to adjust the manual temperature adjustment.

[0168] In another aspect, a beverage manufacturing machine includes a mixing vessel arranged to receive a beverage product, and an agitator driven by a drive motor arranged to mix the beverage product within the mixing vessel. The beverage manufacturing machine also includes a cooling circuit arranged to cool the beverage product within the mixing vessel, a temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature associated with the beverage product and output a temperature signal, a motor condition sensor arranged to measure a motor condition associated with the drive motor and output a motor condition signal, and a memory arranged to store a first temperature value corresponding to a first target temperature and store a motor condition limit. A controller in communication with the memory is arranged to: i) receive the temperature signal, ii) receive the motor condition signal, and ii) control the temperature associated with the beverage product by controlling the cooling circuit based on at least the received temperature signal, the received motor condition signal, the first temperature value, and the motor condition limit.

[0169] In some embodiments, the controller deactivates the cooling circuit when a magnitude of the received motor condition signal (e.g., a current or power level) is equal to or greater than the motor condition limit. The controller can determine a second temperature value corresponding to a second target temperature, where the magnitude of the received motor condition signal is less than the motor condition limit. The controller can control the temperature associated with the beverage product by controlling the cooling circuit based on the second temperature value. In some embodiments, the controller deactivates the cooling circuit until the temperature associated with the beverage product is approximately equal to the second target temperature.

[0170] The motor condition can include current, power, torque, rotational speed, rotational acceleration, noise, and / or heat output. The motor condition sensor can include a motor current sensor, a motor voltage sensor, a motor torque sensor, a motor rotation sensor, an acoustic sensor, and / or a temperature sensor. The user interface can be arranged to receive a user input to adjust a manual temperature adjustment. The controller can control the temperature associated with the beverage product by controlling the cooling circuit based on the received temperature signal, the received motor condition signal, the first temperature value, the motor condition limit, and / or the manual temperature adjustment. The controller can adjust the first target temperature by adding the manual temperature adjustment to the first target temperature.

[0171] In yet another aspect, a method for manufacturing a beverage product includes receiving the beverage product in a mixing vessel; mixing the beverage product within the mixing vessel using an agitator driven by a drive motor; cooling the beverage product within the mixing vessel using a cooling circuit; measuring a temperature associated with the beverage product via a temperature sensor and outputting a temperature signal; measuring a motor condition associated with the drive motor via a motor condition sensor and outputting a motor condition signal; storing a first temperature value corresponding to a first target temperature and storing a motor condition limit in a memory; receiving the temperature signal and the motor condition signal at a controller; and controlling a temperature associated with the beverage product by controlling the cooling circuit based on the received temperature signal, the received motor condition signal, the first temperature value, and / or the motor condition limit.

[0172] In various embodiments, the present application addresses deficiencies associated with cooling assemblies of beverage manufacturing machines.

[0173] The present application describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatus whereby a dual cooling fan simultaneously provides a flow of cooling air to both a drive motor for driving rotation of an agitator and a condenser for cooling refrigerant of a refrigeration circuit and / or system of a beverage manufacturing machine.

[0174] In one aspect, a beverage manufacturing machine includes a mixing vessel arranged to receive a beverage product and an agitator driven by a drive motor arranged to mix the beverage product within the mixing vessel. A refrigeration circuit is arranged to cool the beverage product within the mixing vessel, the refrigeration circuit including a condenser. A cooling fan is configured to simultaneously cool the drive motor and the condenser. In some embodiments, the cooling fan is driven by the drive motor, either directly or via a gear assembly, and is therefore activated when the drive motor is activated.

[0175] A cooling fan can provide an airflow through the condenser to cool refrigerant flowing through the condenser. The cooling fan can provide an airflow along a surface of the drive motor to cool the drive motor. The cooling fan, the drive motor, and the condenser can be positioned such that the airflow generated by the cooling fan passes consecutively through the condenser and along the surface of the drive motor. A first portion of the airflow generated by the cooling fan can cool the condenser, and a second portion of the airflow generated by the cooling fan can cool the drive motor. In another implementation, the airflow generated by the cooling fan passes through the condenser and along the surface of the drive motor in parallel, such that a first portion of the airflow passes through the condenser while a second portion of the airflow passes along the surface of the drive motor. The condenser can include one or more coils wound in a serpentine arrangement. Each of the one or more coils can include a plurality of heat transfer fins. When the cooling fan provides an airflow through the condenser to cool refrigerant flowing through the condenser, the airflow can travel adjacent to and / or around the plurality of coils.

[0176] A cooling channel can extend between the cooling fan and the drive motor, where the cooling channel provides a cooling airflow between the cooling fan and the drive motor. The cooling channel can be formed at least partially by a duct. A cooling channel can extend between the cooling fan and the condenser, where the cooling channel provides a cooling airflow between the cooling fan and the condenser. The cooling channel can be formed at least partially by a duct. The cooling can include a centrifugal fan, a crossflow fan, a tangential fan, a volute fan, a backward curved fan, a forward curved fan, a blower fan, a squirrel cage fan, and / or an axial fan.

[0177] In another aspect, a cooling fan is configured to cool a drive motor and a condenser within a housing of a beverage maker, where the drive motor is configured to drive rotation of an agitator within a mixing vessel of the beverage maker, and the condenser is configured to cool refrigerant circulating within a refrigeration system of the beverage maker. The cooling fan includes an air inlet configured to receive an airflow from an ambient environment, an impeller configured to generate the airflow, and an air outlet configured to output the airflow through the condenser and along a surface of the drive motor. The cooling fan can include an air channel arranged to direct the airflow through the condenser and along the surface of the drive motor. The air channel can be formed at least partially by an air duct. The cooling fan can include a centrifugal fan, a crossflow fan, a tangential fan, a volute fan, a backward curved fan, a forward curved fan, a blower fan, a squirrel cage fan, and / or an axial fan.

[0178] In another aspect, a method for simultaneously cooling a condenser and a drive motor within a housing of a beverage maker using a cooling fan includes activating the drive motor arranged to drive rotation of an agitator within a mixing vessel of the beverage maker, activating a compressor of a refrigeration system of the beverage maker, and activating the cooling fan to simultaneously generate a flow of air through the condenser and along a surface of the drive motor. In some embodiments, the cooling fan is coupled to and / or driven in rotation by the drive motor. The method can include receiving a user input to activate the drive motor, the compressor, and the cooling fan. The user input can initiate a recipe and / or computer program controlled by a controller that automatically activates the drive motor, the compressor, and the cooling fan.

[0179] A person of ordinary skill will recognize that the systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be adapted for use with other types of food products, such as making and / or processing (without limitation) ice cream, frozen yogurt, other dairy creams, and the like. While the present disclosure describes examples of beverage makers that process various frozen and / or semi-frozen beverage products, the systems, apparatus, and methods described herein are not limited to such beverage products and are capable of processing and / or making other types of beverage products, such as cold beverage products and / or chilled beverage products. The term “mixing,” “mixed,” or “mixing” as used herein is not limited to combining multiple ingredients together, but also includes mixing a beverage product or liquid having a single ingredient or no added ingredients. For example, a beverage product can consist of only water that is mixed by the agitator during processing, i.e., portions of water that are agitated and / or blended as the agitator rotates. This can advantageously achieve a more uniform temperature of the water and / or liquid throughout the mixing vessel, for example, by mixing portions of water and / or liquid having different temperatures.

[0180] In various embodiments, the present application addresses deficiencies associated with fluid inlets of frozen beverage makers. Previous frozen beverage makers were generally sized for commercial applications. Commercial frozen beverage makers have a significant headspace above the slush in the vessel. In commercial frozen beverage makers, liquid ingredients can be roughly poured into the open top of the vessel without concern for loss of liquid due to splashing or expansion of the ingredients from impact forces.

[0181] This application describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatuses that address shortcomings of how to add liquid to a container in a frozen beverage maker. In particular, a pour-in opening for a frozen beverage maker is described that allows liquid ingredients to be added to the container in a controlled manner, thereby minimizing or preventing slush overflow. The disclosed pour-in opening can be used with a commercial frozen beverage maker or a residential frozen beverage maker that has a smaller container capacity and less available headspace than a commercial unit. The pour-in opening advantageously avoids external splashing and overflow of liquid ingredients when added to the container and prevents finger insertion (to protect the user from moving parts inside the container). The pour-in opening also prevents slush contained within the container from being pushed out of the container.

[0182] In some aspects, a pour-in opening for a frozen beverage maker is described. The frozen beverage maker has an agitator configured to rotate within a mixing container about a central axis. The pour-in opening includes a surface that is radially inclined relative to the central axis of the agitator. The pour-in opening also includes an aperture positioned on the surface in fluid communication with an interior of the mixing container. The surface can be inclined to direct fluid entering the mixing container to enter in a direction of rotation of the agitator. In some embodiments, the aperture extends laterally along the surface in a direction parallel to the central axis of the agitator. The aperture can be shaped as a slot. In some embodiments, the surface is inclined to direct ingredients entering the mixing container in an entry direction, and the entry direction is the same as a direction of rotation of the agitator. In some such embodiments, the direction of rotation of the agitator is clockwise when viewed from a front of the frozen beverage maker. In these and other embodiments, the aperture is positioned on a right side of the mixing container when viewed from a front of the frozen beverage maker. If desired, a grate can cover at least a portion of the aperture. In these and other embodiments, there can also be a cover movable between an open position in which a user has access to the pour-in opening and a closed position in which the user does not have access to the pour-in opening. In selected embodiments, the pour-in opening can also include a lip extending upward from a perimeter of the surface to form a well into which the aperture feeds. The pour-in opening can be located near a rear of the mixing container when viewed from a front of the frozen beverage maker. In these and other embodiments, rotation of the agitator moves contents of the mixing container from a rear of the mixing container to a front of the mixing container.

[0183] In another aspect, a container for a frozen beverage maker is described. The container includes a chamber and a pour opening. The chamber is a substantially cylindrical chamber sized to receive an agitator configured to rotate within the container about a central axis. The pour opening is positioned on a top section of the container. The pour opening includes a surface and an aperture. The surface is radially inclined relative to the central axis of the agitator. The aperture is positioned on the surface and is in fluid communication with the chamber. In some embodiments, the pour opening is positioned at a rear of the container. In these and other embodiments, the surface of the pour opening is radially inclined to direct incoming ingredients into the container in an incoming direction that is the same as a direction of rotation of the agitator. In selected embodiments, the direction of rotation of the agitator is clockwise when viewed from a front of the container, and the aperture is positioned on a right side of the container. In some embodiments, the container further includes a cover positioned above the pour opening, and the cover is movable between an open position in which a user has access to the pour opening and a closed position in which the user does not have access to the pour opening.

[0184] In another aspect, a container for a frozen beverage maker is described. The container includes a chamber and a pour opening. The chamber is a substantially cylindrical chamber sized to receive an agitator configured to rotate within the container about a central axis. The pour opening is positioned on a top section of the container. The pour opening includes a surface and an aperture. The surface is radially inclined relative to the central axis of the agitator. The aperture is positioned on the surface and is in fluid communication with the chamber. In some embodiments, the pour opening is positioned at a rear of the container. In these and other embodiments, the surface of the pour opening is radially inclined to direct incoming ingredients into the container in an incoming direction that is the same as a direction of rotation of the agitator. In selected embodiments, the direction of rotation of the agitator is clockwise when viewed from a front of the container, and the aperture is positioned on a right side of the container. In some embodiments, the container further includes a cover positioned above the pour opening, and the cover is movable between an open position in which a user has access to the pour opening and a closed position in which the user does not have access to the pour opening.

[0185] The present disclosure describes a low-maintenance dispensing system for a frozen beverage maker that uses a lip seal instead of a plunger seal. The dispensing mechanism includes a number of pivoting linkages that operate to swing the seal upward when a user actuates a dispensing lever. In the open position, the seal is angled at about 45 to 60 degrees relative to the spout, which helps to direct the dispensed beverage product downward. The spout opening also includes a safety grate to prevent a user from inadvertently inserting his or her fingers into the spout.

[0186] This application describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatuses that provide a dispensing assembly for dispensing a beverage product through a spout of a frozen beverage maker.

[0187] In some example implementations, a dispensing assembly for a frozen beverage maker of the disclosure includes a housing having a first portion attached to an outer surface of the frozen beverage maker proximate to a spout and a second portion spaced apart from the spout and extending outwardly from the outer surface. A lever is attached to the second portion of the housing. The lever is rotatable relative to the second portion of the housing about a first pivot member. A seal is operatively coupled to the lever. The seal is configured to seal the spout in a closed position. Rotation of the lever moves the seal to an open position to allow dispensing of a beverage product through the spout.

[0188] In some implementations, a link member is operatively coupled to the lever. The link member is rotatable relative to the lever about a second pivot member. A bracket member is operatively coupled to the link member and attached to the first portion of the housing. The bracket member is rotatable relative to the link member about a third pivot member and is rotatable relative to the first portion of the housing about a fourth pivot member. The seal is attached to the bracket member.

[0189] In some implementations, the second pivot member is a pin extending through the lever and through the link member. In some implementations, the third pivot member is a pin extending through the bracket member and through the link member. In some implementations, the fourth pivot member is a pin extending through the first portion of the housing and through the bracket member. In some implementations, when the seal is in the open position, the seal is at an angle of about 45 to 60 degrees relative to the spout. In some implementations, the spout includes a grate configured to prevent a user from inserting a finger into the spout. In some implementations, the first pivot member includes a pin extending through the second portion of the housing and through the lever. In some implementations, the seal is a lip seal. In some implementations, the bracket member is L-shaped. In some implementations, the housing is L-shaped.

[0190] In some implementations, a method of dispensing a beverage product through a spout of a frozen beverage maker of the disclosure includes rotating a lever relative to a second portion of a housing of a dispensing assembly about a first pivot member. The housing further includes a first portion attached to an outer surface of the frozen beverage maker proximate to the spout and a second portion spaced apart from the spout and extending outwardly from the outer surface. Rotating the lever moves a seal operatively coupled to the lever to an open position to allow dispensing of the beverage product through the spout. The seal is configured to seal the spout in a closed position.

[0191] In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly further includes a link member operatively coupled to the lever and rotating the lever rotates the link member about the second pivot member relative to the lever. In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly further includes a carriage member operatively coupled to the link member and attached to the first portion of the housing, and rotating the lever rotates the carriage member about the third pivot member relative to the link member and about the fourth pivot member relative to the first portion of the housing. In some embodiments, the seal is attached to the carriage member.

[0192] The present disclosure describes a shroud for a dispensing assembly attached to a frozen beverage maker. The shroud is configured to direct beverage product downward toward a beverage cup without interfering with movement of a dispenser lever. The shroud also conceals components of the dispensing assembly for a more pleasing aesthetic appearance and is removable for ease of cleaning.

[0193] The present application describes illustrative systems, methods, and apparatuses that provide a shroud for attachment to a dispensing assembly for directing beverage product downward toward a beverage cup.

[0194] In some embodiments, a shroud for a dispenser assembly of a frozen beverage maker of the present disclosure includes a first panel segment and a second panel segment extending substantially parallel to the first panel segment. A front segment extends between the first panel segment and the second panel segment. The first panel segment and the second panel segment are configured to form a removable snap fit with a dispenser housing of the dispenser assembly.

[0195] In some embodiments, the front segment is curved. In some embodiments, a vertical position of at least the front segment of the shroud is adjustable relative to the dispenser assembly. In some embodiments, the front segment defines an upper edge. A shape of the upper edge is configured to allow actuation of a handle of the dispenser assembly. In some embodiments, the shape of the upper edge is arcuate. In some embodiments, the shape of the upper edge is linear. In some embodiments, a length of the shroud is selected to cover a component portion of the dispenser assembly. In some embodiments, the length and shape of the shroud are selected to direct beverage product dispensed from a spout of the frozen beverage maker downward. In some embodiments, the shroud is made of dishwasher-safe material. In some embodiments, the front segment is movable relative to the first panel segment and the second panel segment. In some embodiments, the front segment is hingedly connected to the first panel segment and the second panel segment. In some embodiments, the front segment is vertically slidable relative to the first panel segment and the second panel segment. In some embodiments, the first panel segment is flat. In some embodiments, the second panel segment is flat.

Claims

1. A frozen beverage manufacturing machine, characterized in that, include: A housing, the housing including an upper housing section and a lever movable relative to the upper housing section between a connected position and a non-connected position; A mixing container for mixing beverage products; and A flexible seal is provided between the upper housing section and the mixing container. The lever, when in the engaged position, engages the mixing container to the upper housing section, and when in the unengaged position, disengages the mixing container from the upper housing section. When the lever is in the connected position, the mixing container is sealed against the upper housing section by the flexible seal.

2. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mixing container has a cylindrical shape, with an opening formed therein in its base, and the opening is sealed by the flexible seal when the lever is in the engagement position.

3. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The opening is circular.

4. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The opening is positioned so that it faces horizontally when the lever is in the engagement position.

5. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible seal includes a face seal that interfaces the vertical alignment surface of the upper housing section to the vertical alignment side of the mixing container.

6. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible seal includes a container seal portion configured to create a watertight seal between the mixing container and the upper housing section, and an evaporator seal portion configured to seal the evaporator within the mixing container.

7. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lever includes a handle that allows a user to move the lever between the engaged position and the unengaged position.

8. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The handle is positioned closer to the upper housing section when in the connected position than when in the unconnected position.

9. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, When moving between the connected position and the unconnected position, the handle moves less than 90° relative to the upper housing section.

10. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The movement of the handle to move the lever to the engagement position activates a cam in the upper housing section, which engages a mating feature on the mixing container to secure the mixing container to the upper housing section.

11. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 10, characterized in that, The cam further includes a pop-out feature to apply a pop-out force to the mixing container when the lever moves from the coupled position to the uncoupled position.

12. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, It further includes a drive motor and an interlock switch, wherein the interlock switch is located within the upper housing section and configured to be activated when the mixing container is attached to the housing, thereby allowing the drive motor to operate.

13. The frozen beverage manufacturing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lever is rotatably connected to the upper housing section.

14. A frozen beverage manufacturing machine, characterized in that, include: A housing, the housing including an upper housing section and a coupling mechanism movable relative to the upper housing section between a coupled position and a non-coupled position; A mixing container for mixing beverage products; and A flexible seal is provided between the upper housing section and the mixing container. The coupling mechanism, when in the coupled position, couples the mixing container to the upper housing section, and when in the uncoupled position, separates the mixing container from the upper housing section. When the connecting mechanism is in the connected position, the mixing container is sealed against the upper part of the housing by the flexible seal.

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