Beverage dispenser

Claim 1

A machine for dispensing a beverage made by mixing a liquid with a granular food product comprising: a base adapted to engage a support, an upright wall mounted on the base, a container for storing a granular food product, means having a mixing chamber and an outlet passage wherein liquid and food product are mixed to form a beverage, a metering unit to receive food product from the container, means detachably mounting the container on the metering unit, said metering unit having rotatable means operable to dispense food product from the metering unit to said mixing chamber, cantilever mount means extending from said wall for slidably receiving and supporting the metering unit and container carried thereby on the wall above said base, said mount means thereby allowing the metering unit and container to be slidably removed as a unit from said wall for refill, cleaning and repair as necessary, drive means mounted on the wall engageable with and operable to rotate said rotatable means, means for controlling the amount of liquid discharged into the mixing chamber, said latter means including an on-off control valve operable to permit liquid to flow into the mixing chamber and to prevent liquid from flowing into the mixing chamber, and control means for concurrently actuating the drive means and valve whereby liquid and food product are simultaneously discharged into the mixing chamber forming the beverage, said beverage flowing into a collection container through the outlet opening in said means having a mixing chamber.