IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0633790
(2009-12-08)
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등록번호 |
US-8459176
(2013-06-11)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nevarez, Roberto
- Smith, William E.
- Claesson, Jan
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
76 |
초록
▼
An integrated beverage blending system comprising: a controller for menu selection; an ice portion control module; an ingredient module; a dispensing apparatus in communication with the ice portion control module and the ingredient module, wherein the ice and the ingredient are dispensed into a beve
An integrated beverage blending system comprising: a controller for menu selection; an ice portion control module; an ingredient module; a dispensing apparatus in communication with the ice portion control module and the ingredient module, wherein the ice and the ingredient are dispensed into a beverage container via the dispensing apparatus; and at least one blender module which blends and/or mixes the ice and the ingredient in the beverage container, thereby producing the beverage; wherein, upon removal of the beverage container from the blender module, the blender module initiates a cleaning mode.
대표청구항
▼
1. An integrated beverage blending system comprising: at least one system controller;an ice portioning module;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and/or said ingredient module;a blender module with an integrated cleaning apparatus, wherein sai
1. An integrated beverage blending system comprising: at least one system controller;an ice portioning module;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and/or said ingredient module;a blender module with an integrated cleaning apparatus, wherein said ice portioning module comprises: an ice bin for storing ice; a rotatable base of said ice bin having at least one portion control compartment; at least one leveling blade that ensures consistent volume of said ice in each portion control compartment; a dispensing port in communication between a selected portion control compartment and said dispensing apparatus, thereby allowing ice in said selected portion control compartment to be dispensed into said dispensing apparatus; and a sensor in communication with said controller which determines the amount of ice which is dispensed into said dispensing apparatus. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein an agitator is used to prevent ice in said ice bin from congealing which would prevent ice from entering into said rotatable base. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable base is formed by a pair of oppositely disposed first and second plates, wherein one or more compartments are formed by at least one sidewall disposed between said first and second plates, wherein said first plate comprises an opening associated with each said compartment to allow said ice to move from said bin into each said compartment, and wherein said second plate includes drainage holes which allow for water to drain from said ice disposed within each said compartment. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable base is formed by a plate and at least one compartment wherein the compartment is formed by at least one sidewall attached to said plate, wherein said plate comprises an opening associated with said compartment to allow said ice to move from said bin into said compartment, and wherein said compartment includes drainage holes which allow for water to drain from said ice disposed within said compartment. 5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said ice portioning module further comprises a rotatable shaft connected to a motor which rotates said rotatable base, and said at least one leveling blade to ensure consistent portion of ice, wherein said first plate and said sidewall rotate together with said rotatable shaft, while said second plate remains stationary and wherein said dispensing port is disposed within said second plate to allow the contents of each compartment to be removed therefrom when said compartment is aligned with said dispensing port. 6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said ice portion control module further comprises a rotatable shaft connected to a motor which rotates said rotatable base, and said at least one leveling blade to ensure consistent portion of ice, wherein said plate and said sidewall rotate together with said rotatable shaft and wherein said dispensing port is disposed within said plate to allow the contents of each compartment to be removed therefrom when said compartment is aligned with said dispensing port. 7. An integrated beverage blending system comprising: at least one system controller;an ice portioning module;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and/or said ingredient module;a blender module with an integrated cleaning apparatus, wherein said ice portioning module comprises: an ice bin for storing ice which incorporates one or more sloped walls to feed ice into a dispensing port, thereby allowing ice in said ice bin to be dispensed into said dispensing apparatus; and a sensor in communication with said controller which determines the amount of ice which is dispensed into said dispensing apparatus. 8. An integrated beverage blending system comprising: at least one system controller;an ice portioning module;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and/or said ingredient module;a blender module with an integrated cleaning apparatus, wherein ice from said ice portioning module and at least one ingredient from said ingredient module are dispensed into a beverage container via said dispensing apparatus; and wherein said beverage container with said ice and said ingredient is placed in said blender module for blending and/or mixing said ice and said ingredient in said beverage container, thereby producing said beverage, wherein said blender module comprises: a housing; a door which provides access to the interior of said housing; a spindle and blade used to blend and/or mix said ice and ingredient to form said beverage; a container seal disposed about said spindle which is capable of sealing said beverage container during blending and/or mixing, as well as preventing said beverage container from rotating thereabout; and a container holder. 9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a water and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing solution supply system connected to said container holder for cleaning and/or sanitizing at least said interior of said housing, said spindle, said blade and said container seal after completion of blending or mixing each beverage. 10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said cleaning mode is activated subsequent to the last mixing sequence and returning of said door to the closed position. 11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said blender module includes a variable speed and direction motor to move said spindle. 12. The system according to claim 8, wherein said blender module includes a variable speed motor to move said blade. 13. An integrated beverage blending system comprising: at least one system controller;an ice portioning module;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and/or said ingredient module;a blender module with an integrated cleaning apparatus, wherein ice from said ice portioning module and at least one ingredient from said ingredient module are dispensed into a beverage container via said dispensing apparatus; and wherein said beverage container with said ice and said ingredient is placed in said blender module for blending and/or mixing said ice and said ingredient in said beverage container, thereby producing said beverage, wherein said beverage container is a single serving cup, wherein said blender module comprises: a housing; a door which provides access to the interior of said housing; a spindle and blade used to blend and/or mix said ice and ingredient to form said beverage; a container seal disposed about said spindle which is capable of sealing said single serving cup during blending and/or mixing, as well as preventing said single serving cup from rotating thereabout; and a container holder. 14. An integrated beverage blending system comprising: at least one system controller;an ice portioning module;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portioning module and/or said ingredient module;a blender module with an integrated cleaning apparatus, wherein said dispensing apparatus is a dispensing nozzle comprising an ice dispensing conduit and a plurality of ingredient conduits disposed about said ice dispensing conduit, wherein each ingredient conduit is isolated from other ingredient conduits and said ice dispensing conduit, whereby ingredient contamination is avoided, wherein said ingredient conduits comprises a heat transfer device disposed about or proximate to said ingredient conduit, thereby controlling the temperature of said ingredient passing through said ingredient conduit. 15. A refrigerated beverage and blending system comprising: a controller for system operation;an ice portioning module utilizing a positive displacement method;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portion control module and said ingredient module, wherein said ice and said ingredient are dispensed into a beverage container via said dispensing apparatus; andat least one blender module with integrated cleaning apparatus which blends and/or mixes said ice and said ingredient in said beverage container, thereby producing said beverage, wherein said ice portioning module comprises: an ice bin for storing ice; a rotatable base of said ice bin having a plurality of portion control compartments; at least one leveling blade that ensures consistent volume of said ice in each portion control compartment; a dispensing port in communication between a selected portion control compartment and said dispensing apparatus, thereby allowing ice in said selected portion control compartment to be dispensed into said dispensing apparatus; and a sensor in communication with said controller and which determines the amount of ice which is dispensed into said dispensing apparatus. 16. A refrigerated beverage and blending system comprising: a controller for system operation;an ice portioning module utilizing a positive displacement method;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portion control module and said ingredient module, wherein said ice and said ingredient are dispensed into a beverage container via said dispensing apparatus; andat least one blender module with integrated cleaning apparatus which blends and/or mixes said ice and said ingredient in said beverage container, thereby producing said beverage, wherein said ice portion control module comprises: an ice bin for storing ice; an ice portion dispensing system which comprises a tipping beam where a counterbalance on one side is balanced when a equal weight of ice is dispensed on the other side causing said ice portion to tip into the dispensing apparatus. 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the number of ice portion tips is used to provide the required portion as prescribed by the recipe; and further comprising at least one dispensing port in communication between a selected portion control compartment and said dispensing apparatus, thereby allowing ice in said compartment to be dispensed into said dispensing apparatus; and a sensor in communication with said controller and which determines the amount of ice which is dispensed into said dispensing apparatus. 18. A refrigerated beverage and blending system comprising: a controller for system operation;an ice portioning module utilizing a positive displacement method;an ingredient module;a dispensing apparatus in communication with said ice portion control module and said ingredient module, wherein said ice and said ingredient are dispensed into a beverage container via said dispensing apparatus; andat least one blender module with integrated cleaning apparatus which blends and/or mixes said ice and said ingredient in said beverage container, thereby producing said beverage, wherein said ice portioning module comprises: an ice bin for storing ice which incorporates at least one sloped wall to feed ice into a dispensing port in communication between a selected portion control compartment and said dispensing apparatus, thereby allowing ice in said selected portion control compartment to be dispensed into said dispensing apparatus; and a sensor in communication with said controller and which determines the amount of ice which is dispensed into said dispensing apparatus. 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said portion control compartment is disposed within said dispensing port comprises a plurality of movable plates disposed above and below said dispensing port. 20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said dispensing port is of a predetermined volume. 21. The system according to claim 19, further comprising at least one sensor in communication with said controller in the dispensing port detect the presence of ice and cause said plates to move. 22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said controller in communication with the dispensing port determines the volume of ice dispensed.
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