Apparatus and methods for producing beverages

Abstract

A modular ice delivery system ( 5 ) includes a beverage dispenser unit ( 70 ) for dispensing beverages therefrom and an ice delivery unit ( 10 ) linked with the beverage dispenser unit for supplying ice to the beverage dispenser unit. A docking pathway ( 12 ) formed between the ice delivery unit and the beverage dispenser unit is provided for operatively linking the ice delivery unit with the beverage dispenser unit. The modular ice delivery system may further include an ice capacity booster unit ( 50 ) linked with the ice delivery unit, ultimately, for supplying ice to the beverage dispenser unit. A docking pathway formed between the ice delivery unit and the ice capacity booster unit is also provided for linking the ice capacity booster unit and the ice delivery unit. In effect, each docking pathway enables the modular ice delivery system to be broken down into modular units commensurate with varying demand for ice. Additionally, the modular ice delivery system includes a sanitizing system ( 43 - 49 ) for ensuring the production and dispensing of sanitary ice from the modular ice delivery system.

1 . An apparatus for producing a frozen beverage, comprising:
 an ice supply unit for supplying a quantity of ice to produce multiple frozen beverages;   a sanitizing unit;   a flavor dispensing unit for storing a plurality of supplies of flavoring ingredients and for dispensing at least one of the flavoring ingredients;   a mixing unit for mixing the fragmented ice and the at least one of the flavoring ingredients; and   a control unit comprising a user interface, said control unit being responsive to user input requesting the frozen beverage for causing ice to be supplied from said ice supply unit, said flavor dispensing unit to dispense the at least one of the flavoring ingredients and said mixing unit to mix the supplied ice and the at least one of the flavoring ingredients in a cup from which the beverage is to be served;   the control unit being configured to automatically cause the sanitizing unit to sanitize a mixing element of the mixing unit after the beverage has been mixed.