FROZEN DRINK DISPENSER AND METHOD OF DISPENSING FROZEN DRINKS

1 . A frozen drink dispenser comprising:

a housing;

a dispensing station supported by the housing and configured to dispense a precise quantity of a flavored fluid from a variety of flavored fluids into a blender cup, the dispensing station including a first support configured to support the blender cup and weigh contents within the blender cup;

a shaved ice and blend station supported by the housing and configured to dispense a precise quantity of shaved ice within the blender cup and to mix the contents within the blender cup, the shaved ice and blend station including a second support configured to support the blender cup; and

a rinse station configured to rinse and clean the blender cup.

2 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing station further includes a pump and a plurality of lines coupled to the pump to deliver flavored fluids to the pump.

3 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing station further includes a weigh scale.

4 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the shaved ice and blend station further includes a chute drive to deposit shaved ice into the blender cup.

5 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the shaved ice and blend station further includes a blender drive to drive the operation of blades provided in the blender cup.

6 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 5 , further comprising a controller coupled to the pump and the blender drive to control the operation of the frozen drink dispenser.

7 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 6 , further comprising a display coupled to the controller.

8 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the rinse station includes a nozzle connected to a water supply and a drain.

9 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the drain extends from the rinse station to the shaved ice and blend station.

10 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a bottom unit configured to support the housing.

11 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the bottom unit includes a refrigeration unit.

12 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a transfer mechanism configured to move the blender cup from the dispensing station to the shaved ice and blend station.

13 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the transfer mechanism includes an arm configured to engage a base of the blender cup.

14 . The frozen drink dispenser of claim 12 , further comprising one or more sensors to detect a presence of the blender cup in the dispensing station and the shaved ice and blend station.

15 . A method of dispensing more than one frozen drinks simultaneously, the method comprising:

dispensing a precise quantity of a flavored fluid from a variety of flavored fluids into a first blender cup from a dispensing station of a frozen drink dispenser;

dispensing a precise quantity of shaved ice into a second blender cup and mixing contents in the second blender cup in a shaved ice and blend station of the dispenser; and

rinsing a third blender cup in a rinse station of the dispenser,

wherein dispensing flavored fluid, dispensing and mixing shaved ice, and rinsing occur substantially simultaneously.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising weighing the first blender cup after dispensing the precise quantity of the flavored fluid into the first blender cup.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising blending the contents of the second blender cup with blades provided in the second blender cup.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising draining excess from the shaved ice and blend station and the rinse station in a common drain that extends from the rinse station to the shaved ice and blend station.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling the operation of the dispenser with a controller and displaying user operational commands on a display.