APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE BLENDING OF DRINKS
A blending system includes a base, a housing connected to the base, and an ice bin positioned above the housing. A plurality of load cells may be positioned between the housing and the ice bin to monitor the weight of the ice bin. A drive play may be positioned above the base with a plurality of load cells disposed between the drive plate and base to monitor the weight of a container positioned on the drive plate.
1 . A blending system comprising:
a base;
a housing connected to said base;
an ice bin positioned on top of said housing; and
three or more load cells positioned between said housing and said ice bin.
2 . The blending system of claim 1 , wherein said blending system includes four load cells positioned about said housing.
3 . The blending system of claim 1 further comprising a shaver base positioned between said housing and said ice bin.
4 . The blending system of claim 3 , wherein said load cells are positioned on said shaver base.
5 . The blending system of claim 4 , wherein the shaver base is generally rectangular and further wherein a load cell is positioned near each corner of said shaver base.
6 . The blending system of claim 1 , wherein said blending system is configured to monitor said load cells to determine weight changes in said ice bin.
7 . The blending system of claim 1 further comprising a shaver wheel located in said ice bin.
8 . A blending system comprising:
a base;
a housing connected to said base;
an ice bin positioned on said housing;
a drive plate positioned on said base;
a container positioned on said drive plate and configured to receive ice from said ice bin; and
three or more load cells positioned between said base and said drive plate.
9 . The blending system of claim 8 further comprising a shroud located on said drive plate and positioned about said container.
10 . The blending system of claim 8 , wherein said blending system is configured to monitor said load cells to determine weight changes in said container.
11 . The blending system of claim 8 further comprising three or more ice bin load cells positioned between said housing and said ice bin.
12 . The blending system of claim 11 further comprising a shaver base positioned between said housing and said ice bin.
13 . The blending system of claim 12 , wherein said ice bin load cells are located on said shaver base.
14 . The blending system of claim 8 further comprising one or more dampers positioned between said ice bin and said shaver base.
15 . A blending system comprising:
a base;
a housing connected to said base;
a shroud connected to said base;
a shaver base positioned above said housing;
an ice bin positioned above said shaver base, said ice bin having a shaver wheel therein;
wherein said shaver wheel includes a drain opening in fluid communication with one or more drain apertures in said shroud.
16 . The blending system of claim 15 , wherein said shroud includes two drain apertures.
17 . The blending system of claim 15 , wherein said drain apertures extend along a vertical edge of said shroud.
18 . The blending system of claim 15 , wherein said shaver base includes a pass-through portion to allow fluid to pass from said shaver wheel to said drain apertures.
19 . A blending system comprising:
a base;
a shroud connected to said base, said shroud including at least one open side;
a first hinge located on a first side of said open side and a second hinge located on a second side of said open side;
a front door connected to said first hinge and said second hinge; and
wherein said front door is configured to pivot from both said first hinge or said second hinge.
20 . The blending system of claim 19 comprising, wherein said front door includes a center portion and first and second hinged side portions on either side of said center portion and moveable with respect to said center portion.
21 . The blending system of claim 19 , wherein said hinges are magnetic.
22 . The blending system of claim 19 further comprising an attachment portion connected to each hinged side portion, wherein said attachment portion is configured to engage said hinges.
23 . A blending system comprising:
a base;
a drive plate positioned on said base, said drive plate comprising:
a pivot point;
a retaining member; and
a thumb screw;
a motor mount positioned on said pivot point and attached to said retaining member and clamped into a desired position by said thumb screw; and
a spring connecting said drive plate to said motor mount.
24 . The blending system of claim 23 further comprising a slot in said drive plate configured to engage a portion of said thumb screw to allow pivotal movement of said drive plate.