Abstract: A beverage dispenser has a housing, a dispenser head with an electrically conductive combination beverage receptacle actuator lever and dispensed beverage level probe, a control circuit connected to the probe and to a start switch actuatable by the probe and to a solenoid for a beverage valve, and a drip tray and receptacle support wherein the receptacle support is tilted rearward toward the probe to support a tilted receptacle against the probe and keep the lowest part of a tilted receptacle rim against the probe; an improved probe assembly has dielectric journal piece isolating the probe from a body of the dispensing head, and a heater element is provided for the probe and either continuously or intermittently heats the probe to keep it insect free and sanitary.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for dispensing both particulate ice and cold beverage wherein a common supply of ice is used firstly for dispensing and then secondly for cooling of the beverage. A pair of co-axial rotors are co-rotated about a common vertical axis by a single motor, the upper rotor dispenses particulate ice off of an annular upper bottom. All ice that falls through the open center of the upper bottom irreversibly falls down upon a cold plate and the lower rotor moves the fallen cooling ice on the cold plate for enhanced cooling.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser has a housing, a dispenser head with an electrically conductive combination cup actuator lever and beverage level probe, a control circuit connected to the probe and to a start switch actuatable by the probe and to a solenoid for a beverage valve, and a drip tray and cup rest wherein the cup rest is tilted rearward toward the actuator lever to hold a cup against the lever and keep the back of the cup rim against the lever. An improved actuator lever has a dielectric journal, an electrically conductive thin wall metal tube cantilevered probe extending down from a single fastener securing a control lead and the probe to the journal piece and the conductive probe is spaced from and is below the level of the valve body and lever fulcrum. A conductive plastic flow control is mounted in the valve body and a second control lead is connected to the electrically conductive flow control for providing a potential signal in the beverage.