CPC A47J 31/56 (2013.01) [A23F 5/26 (2013.01); A23G 9/04 (2013.01); A23G 9/083 (2013.01); A47J 31/06 (2013.01); F25C 1/04 (2013.01); F25C 1/25 (2018.01); A23G 9/221 (2013.01); F25C 2700/04 (2013.01)] | 15 Claims |
1. An apparatus for forming frozen beverage blocks comprising:
a beverage receiving inlet configured to receive a beverage;
a holding tank configured to hold the beverage that is introduced into the beverage receiving inlet;
a freezing subsystem comprising a cool beverage reservoir and an evaporator, the cool beverage reservoir comprising a collection trough that is configured to receive the beverage upon the beverage being released from the holding tank and a collection tank, the collection trough comprising a floor having an opening that provides a pathway from the collection trough into the collection tank so that a portion of the beverage located in the collection trough flows into the collection tank;
a pump subsystem comprising a pump conduit having a first end located in the collection tank of the cool beverage reservoir and a second end that is coupled to a pump; and
wherein the pump subsystem is configured to pump the beverage from the cool beverage reservoir to a top of the evaporator, the beverage configured to cascade down the evaporator and either freeze along the evaporator to form the frozen beverage blocks from the beverage or flow back into the cool beverage reservoir to be pumped once again to the top of the evaporator.
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