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A blending station apparatus and method includes a foodstuffs storage location where a plurality of individual foodstuffs storage containers are held, a control panel for inputting information into the blending station so that the beverage size and one or more of the various types of foodstuffs, as

A blending station apparatus and method includes a foodstuffs storage location where a plurality of individual foodstuffs storage containers are held, a control panel for inputting information into the blending station so that the beverage size and one or more of the various types of foodstuffs, as well as other ingredients such as ice, water, supplements, etc., can be selected to make a drink, a blending container to hold the various ingredients, a mixing location for blending the ingredients to achieve a uniform drink consistency, and a cleaning location to clean the blending container after the blended contents have been dispensed into a container for consumption.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A blending apparatus, comprising: a blending container; an ice processor to selectively and automatically introduce ice to the blending container upon request; at least one foodstuffs pump to selectively and automatically introduce foodstuffs to the blending container u

The invention claimed is: 1. A blending apparatus, comprising: a blending container; an ice processor to selectively and automatically introduce ice to the blending container upon request; at least one foodstuffs pump to selectively and automatically introduce foodstuffs to the blending container upon request; wherein the ice processor and the at least one foodstuffs pump are both driven by a single motor shaft; wherein the at least one foodstuffs pump comprises a plurality of pumps, each of the plurality of pumps comprising a drive shaft selectively engageable with an associated gear by an associated clutch, wherein the associated gear of each of the plurality of pumps is driven by the single motor shaft. 2. A blending apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of pumps is a peristaltic pump connected to a supply tube extending to the blending container. 3. A blending apparatus, comprising: a blending container; an ice auger and ice chipper to selectively and automatically introduce ice to the blending container upon request; at least one foodstuffs pump to introduce foodstuffs to the blending container upon request; a motor having a drive shaft, the drive shaft comprising: first, second, and third drive sprockets; wherein the first drive sprocket is operatively connected to a jack shaft sprocket, the second drive sprocket is operatively connected to an auger sprocket, and the third drive sprocket is operatively connected to an ice chipper sprocket; wherein the jack shaft sprocket is connected to a jack shaft, and the jack shaft is coupled to a primary drive gear; wherein the primary drive gear drives adjacent pump drive gears. 4. A blending apparatus, comprising: a blending container; an ice auger and ice chipper to selectively and automatically introduce ice to the blending container upon request; at least one foodstuffs pump to introduce foodstuffs to the blending container upon request; a motor having a drive shaft, the drive shaft comprising: first, second, and third drive sprockets; wherein the first drive sprocket is operatively connected to a jack shaft sprocket, the second drive sprocket is operatively connected to an auger sprocket, and the third drive sprocket is operatively connected to an ice chipper sprocket; wherein the jack shaft sprocket is connected to a jack shaft, and the jack shaft if coupled to a primary drive gear; wherein the primary drive gear operatively engages a gear train, and wherein two or more gears of the gear train have associated foodstuffs pumps for selectively moving foodstuffs to the blending container, wherein the gears of the gear train act as idlers until clutched to their respective shafts of their associated foodstuffs pumps. 5. A blending apparatus, comprising: a blending container; an ice auger and ice chipper to selectively and automatically introduce ice to the blending container upon request; at least one foodstuffs pump to introduce foodstuffs to the blending container upon request; a motor having a drive shaft, the drive shaft comprising: first, second, and third drive sprockets; wherein the first drive sprocket is operatively connected to a jack shaft sprocket, the second drive sprocket is operatively connected to an auger sprocket, and the third drive sprocket is operatively connected to an ice chipper sprocket; wherein the first drive sprocket is operatively connected by a first chain to the jack shaft sprocket, the second drive sprocket is operatively connected by a second chain to the auger sprocket, and the third drive sprocket is operatively connected by a third chain to the ice chipper sprocket. 6. A blending apparatus, comprising: a blending container; an ice auger and an ice chipper adjacent to the blending container; at least one foodstuffs pump fluidly connected to the blending container; a motor having a drive shaft; wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the ice auger, the ice chipper, and the at least one foodstuffs pump; further comprising a plurality of foodstuffs pumps each fluidly connected to the blending container, wherein each of the foodstuffs pumps comprises a pump shaft and an associated gear, the associated gear being driven by the motor drive shaft, the gear being selectively engagable with the pump shaft by an electric clutch. 7. A blending apparatus, comprising: a blending container; an ice auger and an ice chipper adjacent to the blending container; at least one foodstuffs pump fluidly connected to the blending container; a motor having a drive shaft; wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the ice auger, the ice chipper, and the at least one foodstuffs pump further comprising a water line directly connected to the blending container and operated by a solenoid valve. 8. A blending apparatus comprising: a blending container; an ice processor to process ice and transport ice to the blending container; a plurality of ingredients; at least one pump configured to transport the ingredients to the blending container; a drive operatively coupled to the ice processor and the at least one pump; wherein the drive further comprises: a single drive shaft; a plurality of gear assemblies operatively coupled to the at least one pump and the ice processor; at least one chain coupling the single drive shaft to the plurality of gear assemblies. 9. A blending apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of gear assemblies further comprises: at least one sprocket directly coupled the single drive shaft by the at least one chain; at least one auxiliary shaft rotatably connected to each of the at least one sprockets such that when the single drive shaft rotates, the at least one auxiliary shaft also rotates; a plurality of gears and clutch mechanisms selectively coupled with the at least one pumps, wherein the gears are disposed relative to one another and coupled to one of the at least one auxiliary shafts such that when the single drive shaft rotates, all of the gears rotate, and wherein the clutch mechanisms couple one or more of the gears with the at least one pumps such that when one of the plurality of clutch mechanisms is not engaged, the corresponding one or more pumps are not operated when the gears rotate, and such that when one of the plurality of clutch mechanisms is engaged, the corresponding one or more pumps are operated when the gears rotate. 10. A blending apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one sprocket further comprises: a first sprocket coupled to a first auxiliary shaft via one of the at least one chains, wherein the first auxiliary shaft is operatively coupled to the ice processor; and a second sprocket coupled to a second auxiliary shaft via one of the at least one chains, wherein the second auxiliary shaft is operatively coupled to the at least one pump. 11. A blending apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of gears and clutch mechanisms further comprises: at least one pump drive gear coupled to one of the at least one pumps via an electronic clutch mechanism, wherein if the electronic clutch mechanism is disengaged, the pump drive gear is able to rotate independently of the corresponding pump, whereas if the electronic clutch mechanism is engaged, the pump drive gear is coupled to the corresponding pump such that they rotate synchronously; at least one spacer gear positioned such that all of the at least one pump drive gears are appropriately spaced apart from one another; a primary drive gear coupled to one of the at least one auxiliary shafts.