Flavored Frozen Beverage Dispenser

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention may provide a frozen beverage dispenser capable of dispensing multiple frozen beverage flavors.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a frozen slush in a mixing area;   receiving at least one ingredient in the mixing area;   mixing the frozen slush with the at least one ingredient into a mixture;   dispensing the mixture out of the mixing area; and   flushing the mixing area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein flushing the mixing area comprises:
 flushing the mixing area with water from a nozzle configured to spray water into the mixing area;   agitating the mixing area once the water is sprayed into the mixing area; and   draining the water out of the mixing area.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein draining the water comprises draining the water through a flush diverter coupled to the mixing area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein flushing the mixing area comprises running an amount of unmixed frozen slush through the mixing area to flush the mixing area. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the frozen slush in the mixing area comprises receiving the frozen slush from a frozen beverage barrel located remotely from the mixing area. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the at least one ingredient in the mixing area comprises a computing device determining when to add the at least one ingredient to the mixing area. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining, by the computing device, when to add the at least one ingredient to the mixing area comprises receiving a selection of a flavor at the computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mixing the frozen slush and the at least one ingredient into the mixture comprises mixing with one of the following: a brushless mixer and mixing with an open trough inclined mixer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ingredient includes one or more micro-ingredients and/or macro-ingredients. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 receiving a frozen beverage base into a mixer;   adding at least one micro-ingredient into the mixer;   mixing the frozen beverage base with the at least one micro-ingredient into a mixture;   removing the mixture from the mixer; and   flushing the mixer by performing at least one of the following:
 flushing the mixer with water and subsequently draining the water, and 
 running an amount of unmixed frozen beverage base through the mixer. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein adding the at least one micro-ingredient comprises adding at least one of the following: a flavor, an alcohol, and a sweetener to the mixer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising adding a macro-ingredient into the mixer, the macro-ingredient comprising at least one of the following: juice, milk, yogurt, fruit puree, fruit pulp, and fruits chunks. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein mixing the frozen beverage base with the at least one micro-ingredient further comprises mixing the frozen beverage base with the at least one macro-ingredient. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving the frozen beverage base in the mixer comprises receiving the frozen beverage base from a frozen beverage barrel located remotely from the mixer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adding the at least one micro-ingredient in the mixer comprises a first computing device determining when to add the at least one micro-ingredient to the mixer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining, by the computing device, when to add the at least one micro-ingredient to the mixer comprises receiving a selection of a flavored beverage at a second computing device. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a barrel for producing and storing a frozen slush;   a mixer;   at least one ingredient component for adding at least one ingredient to the mixer;   a dispenser for dispensing a mixed frozen slush; and   a flush diverter for draining at least one of the following: melted slush and water.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a computing device configured to perform at least one of the following:
 receive a selection of a frozen slush beverage,   determine when to add the at least one ingredient to the mixer based on the selection,   operate the mixer to mix the at least one ingredient with the frozen slush to form the selected frozen slush beverage,   dispense the frozen slush beverage, and   flush the mixer with water after dispensing the frozen slush beverage, wherein the water is drained out of the mixer by the flush diverter.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the computing device being configured to flush the mixer with water after dispensing the frozen slush beverage comprises the computing device being configured to agitate the mixer prior to the flushing the water. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a computing device configured to perform at least one of the following:
 receive a selection of a frozen slush beverage,   determine when to add the at least one ingredient to the mixer based on the selection,   operate the mixer to mix the at least one ingredient with the frozen slush to form the selected frozen slush beverage,   dispense the frozen slush beverage, and   run the unmixed frozen slush through the mixer for a brief period of time to flush the mixer.