Automatic flavor-injected blending apparatus and method

The automatic favor-injected blending apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• a processor;
• user input means in signal communication with the processor, the user input means having means for entering a flavor selection chosen from a plurality of flavor selections;
• a blending spindle rotatably affixed at an upper end to the base, the spindle having a blending blade adjacent a lower end thereof;
• means for rotating the spindle under control of the processor;
• a container support movably affixed to the base, the container support having a support surface adapted to hold a container thereon and movable between a lower position and an upper position wherein the support surface is closer to the spindle upper end;
• means for injecting the selected flavor into the container;
• software means resident in the processor adapted to:
• actuate the injecting means;
• and
• actuate the spindle rotating means;
• and
• an actuator having a first end affixed to the base and a second end affixed to the container support, the actuator comprising means for moving the container support in a vertical direction, the moving means in signal communication with the processor, and wherein the software means is further adapted to direct the moving means to effect a repetitive vertical movement of the container support relative to the spindle in a range of motion between a first blending position and a second blending position, the upper position contained within the range.

An automatic flavor-infected blending apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• a processor;
• a temperature sensor positionable in a preblended product freezer, the sensor in signal communication with the processor;
• user input means in signal communication with the processor, the user input means having means for entering a flavor selection chosen from a plurality of flavor selections;
• a blending spindle rotatably affixed at an upper end to the base, the spindle having a blending blade adjacent a lower end thereof;
• means for rotating the spindle under control of the processor;
• a container support movably affixed to the base, the container support having a support surface adapted to hold a container thereon and movable between a lower position and an upper position wherein the support surface is closer to the spindle upper end;
• means for injecting the selected flavor into the container;
• and
• software means resident in the processor adapted to:
• actuate the injecting means;
• actuate the spindle rotating means;
• and
• receive a sensed temperature from the sensor and issue an alarm if the sensed temperature is outside a predetermined acceptable range.

An automatic flavor-infected blending apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• a processor;
• means in signal communication with the processor for interfacing with another processor;
• user input means in signal communication with the processor, the user input means having means for entering a flavor selection chosen from a plurality of flavor selections;
• a blending spindle rotatably affixed at an upper end to the base, the spindle having a blending blade adjacent a lower end thereof;
• means for rotating the spindle under control of the processor;
• a container support movably affixed to the base, the container support having a support surface adapted to hold a container thereon and movable between a lower position and an upper position wherein the support surface is closer to the spindle upper end;
• means for injecting the selected flavor into the container;
• and
• software means resident in the processor adapted to:
• actuate the injecting means;
• actuate the spindle rotating means;
• and
• track the entered flavor selection and to transmit the entered flavor selection via the interfacing means to another processor.