Standard Operation Guide :: Frozen Beverage :: Introduction

Spaceman offers a wide range of un-carbonated Frozen Beverage models to suit the needs of a variety of customers and products.  Spaceman’s Frozen Beverage line is designed to produce high-volume continuous-dispensing frozen drinks such as: slushies, margaritas, daiquiris, frozen juices, smoothies, milkshakes, etc.  Unlike soft-serve machines, Spaceman frozen beverage machines operate entirely on analog and mechanical controls.  This article will outline all the parts of the Spaceman frozen beverage machines and provide references to other great articles to learn more about how the machines operate.

Overview – Version 1 Frozen Beverage

Version 1 Frozen Beverage machines were produced into 2020 and are identified by an entirely flat front and faceplate.  The Viscosity controls protrude out the front with a curved draw lever and a torque lever that is tensioned via a screw adjustment.

Overview – Version 2 Frozen Beverage

Beginning in 2019, Spaceman began transitioning to a new version 2 frozen beverage machine.  These machines are identified by an overhead faceplate with hidden viscosity controls.  The draw lever is straight up and down and is spring-loaded for automatic handle-closing.  The torque lever is tensioned via a bracket where the user can adjust from viscosity settings 1 through 6.

Overview - Viscosity Controls

On the front of the machine are two levers, a horizontal (torque) and a vertical (draw) lever.  Generally, the draw lever tells the control system when product is being dispensed from the machine, and the torque lever tells the control system how frozen the product is.  It is important to understand that the Spaceman frozen beverage machines do not use temperature to control the viscosity of the product, it is purely mechanical.  For more information on how the viscosity controls work, please see the FB: Viscosity Controls article.

Frozen Beverage Parts Identification

Spaceman frozen beverage machines consist of the following major parts (pictures below):

1. Hopper :: Where liquid product is stored and pre-chilled.  Liquid product flows from the hopper into the freezing cylinder as product is dispensed.
   

3. Hopper Agitator :: Select models are equipped with a hopper agitator.  The hopper agitator is a magnetically-coupled blade that agitates the liquid product in the hopper when in cooling mode.   This helps prevent the product in the hopper from settling and freezing around the edges.
   
4. Low Mix Sensor :: A float sensor to detect when the liquid mix in the hopper is low, illuminating a red low-mix indicator on the front of the machine
   
5. Air-Tube :: This part is not required, and often not used, but can be used to increase the overrun, or amount of air, in the freezing cylinder.  
   

2. Freezing Cylinder :: Where product is frozen and stored frozen to be dispensed.
   

4. Drive Shaft :: Located at the rear of the cylinder, this drive shaft connects to the motor via a gearbox.  This part, and it’s gasket, are important to keep well lubricated to prevent issues.
   
5. Beater :: Sometimes referred to as an auger, the beater is turned by the motor via the drive shaft.  The beater agitates the product in the freezing cylinder during freezing.
   
6. Scraper Blade :: The scraper blade(s) is attached to the beater.  While the beater is turning, the scraper blades will flex outward and scrape frozen product off of the walls of the cylinder.  In older versions, this part may include a metal clip.
   
7. Torque Rotor :: The torque rotor is located in the center of the beater, and rests on a bearing inside the drive shaft (version 1) or at the rear of the beater (version 2).  The torque rotor is the component that is determining how frozen the product in the cylinder is.  As frozen product flows over the torque rotor, the product will put increasing force on the torque lever the more frozen it gets.
   

3. Dispensing Door :: The clear acrylic dispensing door is what holds all of the freezing cylinder parts together and where product is dispensed.
   

3. Beater Guide :: The beater guide is located on the inside of the dispensing door and keeps the beater centered during operation.  
   
4. Draw Valve :: The draw valve is what the user opens and closes to dispense or stop dispensing product.
   
5. Handle :: The handle controls the position of the draw valve and is used to dispense product
   

4. Tune Up Kit :: The Tune Up kit consists of all of the wearable gaskets, o-rings, seals, and other plastic parts that will wear out during the operation of the machine.  These parts should be replaced every three to six months depending on usage.