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A cold beverage dispensing system for chilling a beverage such that at least a portion of the beverage includes a frozen component. The system includes a beverage hopper or tank for retaining a quantity of beverage and a chilling assembly communicating with the beverage hopper for chilling the bever

A cold beverage dispensing system for chilling a beverage such that at least a portion of the beverage includes a frozen component. The system includes a beverage hopper or tank for retaining a quantity of beverage and a chilling assembly communicating with the beverage hopper for chilling the beverage. The system also includes a beverage detector having a conductive probe carried on and extending into the beverage hopper for detecting the condition of either the presence or absence of a beverage at a predetermined level in the beverage hopper and generating a refill control signal corresponding to the condition detected. A refill assembly communicates with the beverage hopper for controllably providing refill beverage to the beverage hopper. A controller is coupled to the refill assembly and the beverage detector for operating the refill assembly in response to the refill control signal to maintain the beverage in the beverage hopper at the predetermined level.

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1. A cold beverage dispensing system for chilling a liquid to produce a beverage such that at least a portion of said beverage includes a frozen component, said cold beverage dispensing system comprising:a beverage hopper for retaining a quantity of said beverage; a dispensing device operatively cou

1. A cold beverage dispensing system for chilling a liquid to produce a beverage such that at least a portion of said beverage includes a frozen component, said cold beverage dispensing system comprising:a beverage hopper for retaining a quantity of said beverage; a dispensing device operatively coupled with said beverage hopper for dispensing beverage therefrom; a beverage detector for detecting the condition of either a presence or an absence of a beverage at a predetermined level in said beverage hopper and generating a refill control signal corresponding to the condition detected; a refill assembly communicating with said beverage hopper for controllably providing refill beverage to said beverage hopper; the refill assembly hingedly secured and tiltable relative to the beverage hopper; and a controller coupled to said refill assembly and said beverage detector for operating said refill assembly in response to said refill control signal to maintain said beverage in said beverage hopper at said predetermined level.