Machine for dispensing beverages of substantially uniform consistency

A machine for dispensing beverages of substantially uniform consistency containing shaved ice, comprising:

• a housing;
• blending means disposed within said housing for blending constituents of a beverage;
• ice shaver means located in said housing for delivering a predetermined amount of shaved ice to said blending means;
• a first controller electrically coupled to said ice shaver means for controlling said delivery of said predetermined amount of shaved ice;
• a second controller separate and distinct from said first controller and electrically coupled to said blending means for controlling said blending means to operate for a predetermined duration;
• a plurality of receptacles disposed within said housing for holding respective drink mixes therein;
• and,
• means located in said housing and coupled in fluid communication with said plurality of receptacles for delivering a measured volume of a selected drink mix to said blending means, said means for delivering a measured volume being electrically coupled to one of said first and second controllers for initiating dispensing of said measured volume of the selected drink mix.

A machine for dispensing beverages of substantially uniform consistency containing shaved ice, comprising:

• a housing;
• blending means disposed within said housing for blending constituents of a beverage for a predetermined time period;
• ice shaver means located in said housing for delivering a predetermined amount of shaved ice to said blending means;
• a plurality of receptacles disposed within said housing for holding respective drink mixes therein;
• and,
• means located in said housing and coupled in fluid communication with said plurality of receptacles for delivering a measured volume of a selected drink mix to said blending means, said means for delivering a measured volume including:
• (a) a plurality of valves respectively coupled to said plurality of receptacles, each of said valves including an internal chamber having a fluid receiving volume of predetermined size alternately filed by a respective drink mix and released therefrom to define said measured volume thereof;
• and,
• (b) means for altering said predetermined size of said fluid receiving volume, said means for altering said predetermined size of said fluid receiving volume includes a plurality of low mass annular spacer elements selectively releasably coupled within said internal chamber for reducing said fluid receiving volume.