Importance

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Abstract

Discloses a multi-flavor hot beverage dispenser apparatus adapted to dispense a selected flavor hot drink. The dispenser apparatus has hopper to hold a base powder. The hopper includes a hopper dispenser outlet including a motor driven auger to dispense the base powder from the hopper and a hot water boiler and hot water dispense valve. The hot water boiler has controlled heating means to heat the water to the desired temperature. A plurality of liquid flavor dispensers is provided with one or more dispensers selectively activatable to dispense a flavor syrup to flavor the dispensed hot drink to the desired flavor. The liquid flavoring supply is separate from the base powder allowing a compact sized dispenser which requires minimal counter space that does not increase with increasing flavor selection offerings. A mixer mixes the hot drink constituents to produce the selected flavor of hot drink indicated by a user by depressing a dispense key corresponding to the desired size and flavor of drink to be dispensed. A portion controlled or push and hold dispense cycle is described. In addition, drink constituent supply sensors are disclosed which operate to disable hot drink dispensing when a supply is low.

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First Claim