A method for rinsing a splash shield on a mixing machine, the method comprising the steps of: providing a vessel containing material to be mixed, the vessel including an opening; further providing a mixing machine having a holder for receiving the vessel, a rotatable mixing element extendable into the vessel for mixing the material, a splash shield positionable to shield the opening of the vessel, and a nozzle oriented towards the splash shield; after mixing the material in the vessel using the mixing element and with the splash shield shielding the vessel opening, unshielding the vessel opening and directing rinsing fluid onto the splash shield using the nozzle while isolating the vessel from the rinsing fluid. view more

A mixing machine for mixing a liquid contained in a vessel having an opening, the mixing machine comprising: a holder coupled to the mixing machine, the holder proportioned to receive a vessel; a rotatable mixing element extendable through the opening into the vessel positioned in the holder, for mixing the contents of the vessel; a motor operatively coupled to at least one of the holder and the mixing element to effect axial translation of the mixing element between first and second positions within the vessel, the mixing element positioned further from the opening when in the first position than when in the second position; a shaft; and a splash shield slidable on the shaft between first and second positions, the splash shield in the second position positionable covering the opening of the vessel and being unrestrained against sliding movement on the shaft in a direction away from the opening, the splash shield having sufficient mass to retain the vessel within the holder during relative axial movement of the mixing element and vessel from the first position to the second position when liquid is present in the vessel. view more

The mixing machine of claim 1, wherein the splash shield has a mass of approximately 5 lbs.

A method for retaining a vessel in a holder while mixing contents of the vessel, the method comprising the steps of: providing a vessel containing contents to be mixed, the vessel including an opening; further providing a mixing machine having a holder on the mixing machine for receiving the vessel, a rotatable mixing element extendable into the vessel for mixing the contents of the vessel, and a shield; positioning the vessel in the holder; positioning the shield in contact with the vessel to cover the opening of the vessel, the shield when contacting the vessel being unrestrained against upward movement away from the opening; and with the vessel positioned in the holder, using a motor to translate at least one of the mixing element and the holder such that the mixing element passes through the contents of the vessel, the mass of the splash shield preventing separation of the holder and the vessel during translation. view more

The method of claim 6, wherein the contents of the vessel are at least partially frozen.

The method of claim 6, wherein the contents comprise frozen milkshake ingredients.

On a mixing machine for mixing a liquid contained in a vessel having an opening, the mixing machine of a type including a rotatable mixing element extendable into the vessel for mixing the contents of the vessel, the improvement comprising: a rinse chamber in the mixing machine, the rinse chamber having an entrance and a door moveable to a closed position covering the entrance; a splash shield carried by the mixing machine, the splash shield positionable covering the opening of the vessel, and at least one nozzle coupled to a source of rinse fluid and oriented to direct rinse fluid onto the splash shield within the rinse chamber. view more

The improvement of claim 15, wherein the at least one nozzle is oriented to direct rinse fluid onto the mixing element.

The improvement of claim 15, wherein the splash shield is of sufficient mass to retain the vessel within the holder during relative movement of the mixing element and vessel in opposite directions.

An apparatus for making frozen drinks from a frozen substance frozen into a cup, comprising: a housing; a cup support mounted to the housing; a liquid dispenser having an outlet positioned to direct liquid into a cup positioned in the cup support; grinding means for, when a cup containing a frozen substance is positioned in the cup support, grinding the frozen substance to form a ground substance; and aeration means for, when a cup containing a frozen substance is positioned in the cup support, causing air to be incorporated into a mixture of the ground substance formed by the grinding means and the liquid dispensed by the liquid dispenser. view more

An apparatus for making frozen drinks from a frozen substance frozen into a cup, comprising: a housing; a cup support mounted to the housing; a rotatable blade assembly mounted within the housing, the blade assembly including shaving elements and aeration elements, the blade assembly moveable between upper and lower blade positions, the lower blade position being at a height such that when a cup is positioned in the cup support, the blade assembly is positioned within the cup and adjacent to the cup bottom. view more