Universal, refrigerated, automated vending kiosk for interchangeable equipment serving soft serve ice cream and frozen beverages

A device for sharing power from a conventional commercial A/C power source among a plurality of loads generated by a plurality of operating components in a food service vending machine, wherein a first one of the plurality of operating components generates a load drawing substantially more current during a start-up condition than during a running condition, the device comprising:

• a controller;
• a master relay coupling the first operating component to the A/C power source, wherein the master relay is controllable by the controller to provide power from A/C power source to the first operating component in a closed mode and remove power provided by the A/C power source from first operating component in an open mode;
• a plurality of slave relays each coupled to respective ones of the other operating components and controllable by one or more of the master relay or the controller to permit the AJC power source to power a respective operating component in a closed mode and to remove power from the respective operating component in an open mode;
• and
• a current sensor in communication with the controller and configured to sense a current drawn on the A/C power source,
• wherein one or more of the master relay or the controller is operative to configure the at least one slave relay in the open mode upon determining that a first value of the sensed current indicates a start-up condition for the first operating component.

A food service vending machine having a power management device for sharing power from a conventional commercial A/C power source among a plurality of loads generated by a plurality of operating components of the food service vending machine, wherein a first one of the plurality of operating components generates a load drawing substantially more current during a start-up condition than during a running condition, the device comprising:

• a controller;
• a master relay coupling the first operating component to the A/C power source, wherein the master relay is controllable by the controller to provide power from A/C power source to the first operating component in a closed mode and remove power provided by the A/C power source from first operating component in an open mode;
• a plurality of slave relays each coupled to respective ones of the other operating components and controllable by one or more of the master relay or the controller to permit the A/C power source to power a respective operating component in a closed mode and to remove power from the respective operating component in an open mode;
• and
• a current sensor in communication with the controller and configured to sense a current drawn on the A/C power source,
• wherein one or more of the master relay or the controller is operative to configure the at least one slave relay in the open mode upon determining that a first value of the sensed current indicates a start-up condition for the first operating component.

A flavoring plate for providing flavoring to a product dispensed by an ice cream dispensing machine, the flavoring plate comprising:

• an extrusion orifice extending perpendicularly through the plate for receiving and extruding the product though the plate;
• a channel extending around a periphery of the extrusion orifice;
• one or more ports positioned around a periphery of the flavoring plate and configured for receiving and introducing respective flavoring fluids into the channel;
• one or more gates positioned between the channel and the extrusion orifice, and configured for transferring the flavoring fluids from the channel to the extrusion orifice.

An ice cream dispensing machine including a flavoring plate for providing flavoring to a dispensed ice cream product dispensed, the flavoring plate comprising:

• an extrusion orifice extending perpendicularly through the plate for receiving and extruding the product though the plate;
• a channel extending around a periphery of the extrusion orifice;
• one or more ports positioned around a periphery of the flavoring plate and configured for receiving and introducing respective flavoring fluids into the channel;
• one or more gates positioned between the channel and the extrusion orifice, and configured for transferring the flavoring fluids from the channel to the extrusion orifice.