Multi-flavor food and/or beverage dispenser

A multi-flavor beverage dispenser, comprising:

• a freezing chamber configured to freeze a beverage base product;
• a dispense valve in fluid communication with the freezing chamber and comprising a valve housing defining at least one injection port passing from an exterior of the valve housing into an interior of the valve housing;
• a nozzle insert positioned within the valve housing, and defining a central opening passing there through;
• a first O-ring positioned between the nozzle insert and the valve housing;
• a second O-ring spaced from the first O-ring, and positioned between the nozzle insert and the valve housing;
• the nozzle insert and the valve housing defining at least one a channel circumferentially surrounding the central opening, and positioned between the first and the second O-ring, the at least one channel aligned with the at least one injection port such that a fluid provided to the at least one injection port can flow into the channel;
• the nozzle insert further defining a plurality of ports passing through the nozzle insert in fixed relationship to the at least one channel and configured to permit flow of fluid in the at least one channel through the nozzle insert and into the central opening;
• a valve stem positioned within the valve housing, and movable between at least a first position permitting a flow of base product through the central opening and a second position where the flow of base product through the central opening is blocked;
• a manifold located external to the valve housing and in fluid communication with the at least one injection port, and comprising:
• a plurality of additive inputs, each additive input configured to receive an additive;
• a purge input configured to receive a purging fluid;
• a plurality of check valves, each valve associated with an individual additive input;
• and an output fluidly coupled to the at least one injection port and configured to communicate one or more additives or purging fluid to the at least one injection port;
• and
• a flow diffuser configured to assist with the mixing of additive with base product as the additive and base product flow through the valve housing.

A valve for use in a beverage dispenser, the valve comprising:

• a valve body comprising a central bore passing through the length of the body and configured to permit the flow of a product through the valve body;
• the valve body further defining an additive port passing through the body to permit flow of an additive into the central bore;
• an insert positioned within the central bore, the insert defining an insert central bore generally aligned with the body central bore;
• the insert and the body defining an additive channel circumferentially surrounding the insert central bore, the additive channel fixedly aligned with the additive port such that additive can flow through the valve body into the additive channel;
• and
• the insert comprising a plurality of openings continuously communicating with the additive channel and positioned such that additive can flow through the insert into the insert central bore.

A multi-flavor beverage dispenser, comprising:

• a valve body comprising a central bore and an additive port communicating to the central bore;
• a nozzle configured to be positioned within the central bore, and having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a dispensing pathway configured for dispensing a product;
• the outer wall of the nozzle defining an additive channel circumferentially disposed about the nozzle;
• the nozzle comprising a plurality of ports continuously communicating from the additive channel to the dispensing pathway;
• and
• the body and nozzle configured such that when the nozzle is positioned in the central bore, the circumferential channel is sealed to the central bore, such that an uninterruptible flow path is established from the additive port to the circumferential channel and to the ports so that additive can be injected into product being dispensed through the pathway.