Patent ID: 8434319

Claim:
An apparatus for preparing and dispensing a flavored ice beverage, comprising: (a) at least one container for holding flavor ingredients; (b) a blending unit including a blender container and a blending mechanism; (c) an ice flakes supplying unit comprising: i. an ice flakes making device for producing ice flakes; ii, an ice flakes container; iii, an ice flakes intermixing mechanism; and iv, a conveying mechanism for transferring said ice flakes from said ice flakes holding and mixing unit to said blender container; (d) a mechanism for transferring said flavor ingredients to said blender container; (e) a computerized control unit for controlling one or more aspects of the process of producing said ice beverage, wherein said ice flakes making device produces ice flakes that are generally of similar dimensions; wherein said ice flakes intermixing mechanism intermixes said ice flakes to maintain a substantially uniform mixture of said ice flakes inside said ice flakes container, such that the lower part of said ice flakes container is filled with said substantially uniform mixture of said ice flakes; wherein said mechanism for transferring said flavor ingredients transfers said flavor ingredients from said containers for holding flavor ingredients, to said blender container; wherein said conveying mechanism for transferring said ice flakes, transfers said ice flakes from said ice flakes holding and mixing unit, to said blender container; wherein said blending mechanism blends a pre-measured amount of said ice flakes, transferred from said ice flakes making unit, with a pre-measured amount of said flavor ingredients, transferred from said least one container, thereby producing said flavored ice beverage; and wherein the apparatus is configured to reapeatably prepare and dispense said flavored ice beverage in an automated process, said ice beverage being a substantially homogeneous mixture.