Frozen Beverage Dispensing Machines with Multi-Flavor Valves

A beverage machine comprising:

• a valve that receives a base fluid and dispenses a mixed beverage comprising the base fluid and an additive fluid, the valve comprising:
• a bore through which the base fluid flows and the bore having an upstream end that receives the base fluid;
• a perimetral surface that defines a plurality of ports through which the additive fluid is injected to thereby mix with the base fluid;
• a downstream end that dispenses the mixed beverage;
• a baffle positioned in the bore downstream of the plurality of ports and configured to redirect the base fluid and the additive fluid to thereby further mix the additive fluid into the base fluid;
• and
• a deflection member positioned in the bore downstream of the baffle and configured to further mix the additive fluid into the base fluid, the deflection member comprising a center column and a plurality of fins that radially extend from the center column;
• and
• an injector coupled to the valve and configured to radially inject the additive fluid into the base fluid through the plurality of ports as the base fluid flows through the bore such that the additive fluid mixes into the base fluid to form the mixed beverage;

A method of dispensing a mixed beverage comprising a base fluid and an additive fluid, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a valve having a bore with an upstream inlet end, the base fluid, wherein the bore has a downstream end and a perimetral surface that defines a plurality of ports;
• injecting, with an injector coupled to the valve, the additive fluid through the plurality of ports radially into the base fluid as the base fluid flows through the valve such that the additive fluid mixes with the base fluid to form the mixed beverage;
• and
• dispensing the mixed beverage from the downstream end of the bore.