Drink maker with detachably connectable mixing vessel

A frozen drink machine configured to make and dispense a frozen drink, comprising:

• a housing comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion of the housing comprises an upper surface forming a tray slot;
• a mixing vessel removably coupled to the upper portion of the housing, wherein the mixing vessel comprises a proximal end, a distal end, an interior volume, and a distal opening disposed in the distal end;
• a dispenser coupled to the proximal end of the mixing vessel;
• an evaporator that extends through the distal opening and within the interior volume of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing;
• a dasher removably mounted around the evaporator;
• a motor configured to rotate the dasher;
• a seal abutting the distal end of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing;
• a cam moveable from a locked position to an unlocked position, wherein the cam secures the distal end of the mixing vessel to the upper portion of the housing in the locked position;
• a collection tray slidably disposed in the tray slot below the mixing vessel;
• and
• a pour-in opening disposed in an outer surface of the mixing vessel between the proximal end of the mixing vessel and the distal end of the mixing vessel.

A frozen drink machine configured to make and dispense a frozen drink, comprising:

• a base unit comprising an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion;
• a mixing vessel removably coupled to the base unit, wherein the mixing vessel comprises a proximal end, a distal portion having a distal end, an interior volume, and a distal opening disposed in the distal end;
• a dispenser coupled to the proximal end of the mixing vessel;
• an evaporator that extends through the distal opening and within the interior volume of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the base unit;
• a dasher mounted around the evaporator;
• a motor configured to rotate the dasher;
• and
• a seal abutting the distal portion of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the base unit,
• wherein the mixing vessel comprises a first locking portion integrally formed with the mixing vessel and extending radially from the mixing vessel,
• wherein the first locking portion is configured to couple to a second locking portion disposed on the base unit,
• wherein the second locking portion is rotatable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, and
• wherein the second locking portion comprises a channel configured to receive the first locking portion in the locked configuration.